Nursing Careers In Pennsylvania

Attention Registered Nurses- Nursing Schools Need You!

2009-04-07T08:58:00.000-07:00

By Sara Ellis RN, BSN

Nursing

is the nation's largest health care profession, with more than 2.7 million registered nurses nationwide, and nursing students account for more than half of all health professions students in the United States. Applications to attend nursing schools continue to increase nicely but did you know that thousands of students are being turned away because of an acute shortage of Nursing Educators?

A study done by the U.S. Bureau of Health Professions indicates that by 2020, the U.S. nursing shortage will grow to more than 800,000 registered nurses. How can we put a serious dent in stemming this dangerous tide unless nurses take an active role in educating the nurses of tomorrow?

Becoming a Nurse Educator is a wonderful career step

Registered nurses ARE teachers! RNs teach patients and their families how to manage their illness or injury, including post-treatment home care needs, diet and exercise programs, and self-administration of medication and physical therapy. RNs mentor and precept new graduates and new hire staff as well as develop and implement ongoing continuing education activities within clinical settings. RNs combine their clinical expertise and passion for teaching others in thousands of ways every time they work.

Nurse Educators make use of that same clinical expertise and passion for teaching to guide and shape the future of the nursing profession- one student at a time!

Do you want to be doing direct patient care when you're 63 and still waiting to be old enough to retire? I say leave bedside nursing to the younger nurses, give your sore back a rest, and turn your talents towards building the next generation of nurses instead!

Some RNs choose to advance their nursing career by moving into administrative or management positions, but the responsibilities and stress of management isn't for everyone. For those RNs who would enjoy keeping in touch with direct patient care and in shaping the future of nursing the best career path to think about is becoming a nurse educator!

Given the growing shortage of nurse educators, the career outlook is strong for nurses interested in teaching careers. Nursing schools nationwide are struggling to find new faculty to accommodate the rising interest in nursing among new students.

Career Flexibility

Most nurse educators work in colleges and universities that offer associate and baccalaureate programs in nursing, and some work as instructors for LPN courses while educators involved in clinical education also work at collaborating health care facilities. A Master's degree in nursing is typically required to become a faculty member at a university but RNs with a Bachelors degree in nursing and clinical experience are the minimum basic requirements for clinical instructors.

Nurse educators can work as full time faculty with all the benefits including tenure and retirement, or may choose to work as part time faculty while still continuing clinical employment and direct patient care. Nurse educators play a vital role in preparing and shaping future generations of nurses!

Earn an NLN accredited Master's in Nursing Education Degree While You Work

You can earn an accredited Master's Degree in Nursing with a specialization in education or in health education online while maintaining your current job by investing just a few hours of study time per week through several schools.

Don't have a BSN Degree?

There's a fully accredited RN to MS in Nursing program that allows busy nurses to take the fast track to earning their Masters in Nursing. Students earn both degrees in a fraction of the time at 1/2 the cost of traditional programs and don't have to give up their job to do it.

Make a difference today that will impact the entire profession for years to come. Become a Nurse Educator!

For Additional Information about NLN Accredited Online Nursing Degrees and programs including LPN to RN/BSN, RN - BSN Degrees, Specialty Nursing Certification in Forensic Nursing, Legal Nurse Consulting, and Advanced Practice Nursing visit Medi-Smart's Online

Nursing Education - Passing the NCLEX

2009-04-06T04:34:00.000-07:00

By Robyn Knapp

The time is going to come for every graduate nurse to sit for their state boards. To become a Registered Nurse, the graduate nurse must pass the NCLEX. This is a comprehensive examination of the skills necessary to practice nursing safely. It is important for the graduate nurse to use all of the tools available to ensure success at passing. Many schools prepare the student nurses early in their curriculum with test questions that mimic the format of the NCLEX.

This is done to familiarize the students with the type of questions that they will face when they take the NCLEX. Many schools, in addition to in class tests, are also incorporating outside resource testing. These companies offer a wide selection of computerized nursing test bank questions that measure the student's comprehension and application of practice and theory for each nursing course. The student's are required to pass these tests with an acceptable score that is decided by the school that they are attending.

Most of the time, the score that the student tries to achieve is at or above the national average. If the student's score falls below the national average, that student is then required to take the test until their score is acceptable. This can be most bothersome for many nursing students. Although these tests do not add or detract from the student's grade point average, they are mandatory for many schools. Most nursing schools will with hold the student's diploma if the student has not completed all of the necessary required tests. These questions not only help to measure the student's knowledge level in regards to the material covered, but it also acts as a tracking tool. In acting as a tracking tool, student's scores from all participating nursing schools can be compared and contrasted.

These same students are followed up until the end of the program, and then determinations regarding one schools performance over another can be interpolated. Once the student graduates from nursing school, they are further tracked by their mandatory and or voluntary participation in a four day NCLEX review seminar. These seminars are usually offered by the same testing corporation originally used by the school throughout the program and are offered at no extra expense to the student's. The performance of the student's throughout the program can then be interpolated with some degree of confidence on how well they perform on the NCLEX.

Of course all of the tracking and testing statistics can only predict outcomes. Only the student knows how much effort that they need to expend to pass their nursing courses and the state boards. Ask any nursing student, and most will concur that there is a lot of work that goes into getting through nursing school. It is important for the nursing student to look objectively at the numbers and percentages of those who pass the NCLEX. The rumor, that is supposedly based on fact, in, that all "A" and "B" students pass the NCLEX the first time, and all "C" student's fail the first time, is a false assumption, and one which can be detrimental to a "C" student's psyche. The only fact, is that the student must be the final judge of themselves, as far as knowing what they are capable of accomplishing, and not what rumor or statistics reflect.

Students should be aware that the use of outside practice resources is an acceptable and proven method to increase their chances of passing the NCLEX Nursing student's are encouraged to study not just one NCLEX study guide, but many. Using two or three NCLEX study guides as a reference is a solid strategic plan. Knowledge gained from the nursing program is of course valuable. However, a student cannot possibly remember every little detail. They would have thousands of flash cards to study, if that were the case. So, as the saying goes, "study smarter, not harder" applies.

The NCLEX is scientifically designed and percentages are assigned in respect to different content areas. The student is urged to study how the test is put together and use review material that best supports a similar format. This article will not recommend any study material, but it will impress upon student's to use up to date, current and respected sources. Nursing instructors are a good resource for suggesting resources. It is a good beginning strategy. Nursing instructor's have a lot of experience and are consistently revising their test bank material to keep current with the latest NCLEX question format.

Students are encouraged to practice online computer tests as well. Not only does familiarity with computer testing ease the student's anxiety, but it also gives the student the computer skill necessary to maneuver through the test without difficulty. Here is an example, imagine having to drive two thousand miles, and getting into a car. You know the direction to where you are going, but you never drove a car before in your life. How do you think you are going to feel getting behind that wheel, with such a long road ahead, and not being able to anticipate or know what to do when confronting unfamiliar situations?

It is the same thing with navigating the NCLEX. Knowing how to work the controls is very important, and it will save you time and energy that can be better put to use answering questions.

It is important not to go into the test thinking that luck is on your side, without having studied. Luck, may or may not be, but the fact is, most teachers will tell you, that if you didn't study, then you won't do well. The same thing can be said about the NCLEX. Study, is the key. Know what you are facing. There is so much information out there that gives the graduate nurse all the tools that they need to be successful in passing the NCLEX. Remember, it's up to you. So best wishes, on your test, and study, study, study.

Frameworks in Nursing Theory and Practical

2009-04-02T05:49:00.000-07:00

Nursing theory is the term given to the body of wisdom that is used to support nursing practice. In their professional education, nurses will study a range of interconnected subjects which can be applied to the practice setting. This knowledge may come from experiential learning, from formal sources such as nursing research or from non-nursing sources.

Nursing theories provide a framework for nurses to systematize their nursing actions: what to ask, what to observe, what to focus on and what to think about, to develop new and validate current knowledge. They define commonalities of the variables in a stated field of inquiry, guide nursing research and actions, predict practice outcomes, and predict client response.

Nursing theories are used to describe, develop, disseminate, and use previous/present knowledge in nursing. Descriptive theory identifies properties and components of a discipline. They identify meaning and observations and describe what elements exist in that discipline. Explanatory theory identifies how the properties and components relate to each other and accounts for how the discipline functions. Predictive theories predict the relationships between the components of a phenomenon and predict under what conditions it will occur. And, Prescriptive theories address nursing therapeutics and consequences of interventions.

There are generally 4-levels of Nursing Theory: Metatheory is the most abstract and not easily tested. Grand Theory is a conceptual framework that defines broad perspectives for nursing practice. Middle Range Theory is moderately abstract and has a limited number of variables. They can be tested directly. Mid-range is very useful in nursing research and practice. Practice Theory traces the outline for practice. Objectives are set and actions are set to meet the objectives. Four steps in the development of practice theories are: factor isolating, factor relating, situation relating, and situation producing control.

In nursing, theories can also be analyzed by types which are needs, interaction, outcome, and humanistic-focused.

It is interesting to note that 90% of all nursing theories have been generated just in the last 20-years. Many schools encourage students to formulate theories of Nursing as part of their curriculum. In fact the pages of Nursing Science Quarterly are a major mouthpiece for Nursing Theory. Some still argue though that this multiplicity of theory is detrimental to the practice and undermines common vision. Others would say that the nature of the young science is sufficiently far reaching to require such tactics in order to elicit true consensus. It cannot be denied, however, that there is much vanity involved in the formulation of nursing theory.

Nursing theory is essential to the framework of nursing practice. Nursing theory information will assist in guiding individual practice and research methods.

President Obama’s Economic Incentives Herald Hope for Nursing

2009-04-01T08:49:00.000-07:00

By Susan Kreimer, MS, contributor

Nursing advocates view the economic stimulus signed by President Barack Obama as a significant investment in health care and believe the nursing profession stands to benefit greatly from the much-needed assistance.

“In fighting for resources in the stimulus, the nursing community shared a belief that this funding can help pave the way to fill many thousands of the over 200,000 currently vacant job openings within the next one to three years,” said Michelle Artz, chief associate director of government affairs at the American Nurses Association in Silver Spring, Maryland.

According to Artz, filling these vacancies will enhance patient care, increase efficiency and reduce costly medical errors. “The nurses produced through this investment are the chronic care/prevention managers, care coordinators and nurse educators of tomorrow,” she said.

The stimulus includes $500 million for the health workforce. Of this package, $300 million is allocated to National Health Service Corps, with $200 million dedicated to Title VII and VIII of the Public Health Service Act. Title VII refers to health professions programs and VIII applies specifically to Nursing Workforce Development.

For the complete article, please go to:

http://www.nurseconnect.com/Resources/ArticleProfile.aspx?Id=374700

AACN Applauds Congress for Enacting the Stimulus Bill That Includes Funding Nursing Education

2009-03-30T05:04:00.000-07:00

All three provisions for health professions training will provide an opportunity for nursing students and schools to receive funding. The Nursing Workforce Development Programs support the supply and distribution of qualified nurses to meet our nation’s health care needs. Over the last 45 years, Title VIII programs have addressed each aspect of nursing shortages – education, practice, retention, and recruitment. By investing in these programs, Congress has shown its strong commitment to reversing the national nursing shortage and filling vacant nursing positions.

The provisions authorized under Title VII are the only federally funded programs that support the education and training of individuals across the interdisciplinary healthcare team. Schools of nursing and nursing students benefit from many Title VII programs, such as the Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students and the Faculty Loan Repayment Program.

Finally, the National Health Service Corps provides scholarships and loans to nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives, primary care physicians, dentists, mental and behavioral health professionals, physician assistants, and dental hygienists.
In November 2008, AACN’s Board of Directors approved the organization’s request to expand AACN’s efforts to secure funding for nursing education in the stimulus package. In this difficult economic time for schools of nursing, the Board recognized this unique opportunity to act now and alleviate current funding concerns for nursing education and increase appropriations for the Nursing Workforce Development programs in fiscal years 2009 and 2010. Reacting to AACN’s call to action, nursing deans, faculty, and students rallied behind the stimulus legislation and sent more than a 1,000 messages through AACN’s online advocacy tool to Congress explaining the importance of supporting nursing education and funding for the Title VIII programs.

“Securing this funding is a tremendous feat for nursing education and a testament to the power of collaboration among nursing organizations,” added Dr. Raines. “AACN is grateful that our membership acted quickly, along with the thousands of nurses across the country, to encourage Members of Congress to include funding for nursing and health professions training in the final bill. Nursing united and prevailed.”
For more details on AACN’s advocacy effort on behalf of nursing education and research, see http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Government/index.htm.

Hospital or Private Practice - What Nurses Need to Consider When Making This Vital Decision

2009-03-27T12:42:00.000-07:00

By: Grant Eckert

In any career, there are a number of decisions to make. Within the nursing path, there are a number of directions you can take when you are first starting out, often resulting in different career paths and positions. The first and most vital decision you will make is whether to enter the hospital setting or the private practice setting. Both have their rewards, as well as their limitations, so this is a choice you need to spend time on making.

When You Choose the Hospital Setting

Any graduate of nursing school is probably going to be flooded with offers from hospitals and hospital type settings. And with the hiring bonuses they offer, these offers can be quite tempting. Here are the main benefits of talking to these human resources departments:

· Often unionized workplaces - Once you're into these hospitals, you're nearly guaranteed steady work for the rest of your life. Your wages will be raised yearly and your benefits will be negotiated regularly.
· Possibility of promotion or transfers - In a larger hospital setting, you will be able to change your position as your experience increases. Most hospitals will post jobs in other departments with preference given to those already in similar positions or with more years on the job.
· Variety of work - You can start out in one position and then transfer to other positions as your knowledge increases or you simply want a change of scenery and patient care.

But as with any setting in which you would choose to be a nurse, there are downsides too.

· Problems dealing with seniority in the beginning - Since seniority tends to be rewarded, as a new nurse, you might find that positions are slim and the hours are poor until you have a few years of experience.
· Fast paced setting, high patient to nurse ratio - While this can also be a benefit, the fast paced setting and high patient ratio can be exhausting for some nurses, often leading to burnout.

When You Choose the Private Practice Setting

If you're looking at joining a private practice as a nurse, you will find that there are just as many benefits as there are problems with this arrangement.

The benefits include:

· Regular hours - Because you are only working when the doctors are there, you can establish a more regular schedule. This works well for nurses with families that need their care.
· More chance for patient interaction - When you're only dealing with one patient at a time, you can feel more connected to the patients you do meet.
· Smaller patient population - This allows you to learn and to remember patients that come in regularly. You also can have less stress than in a hospital setting.

But the disadvantages to this setting are:

§ Lack of unionization in many cases - This can cause your job to be at risk for termination at any time, regardless of seniority. Your benefits will also be decided by the practice management instead of being supported by a union representative.
§ The pay can be less - While some practices pay better than others, the pay is often much less in a private setting as the revenue can be smaller.
§ There are fewer jobs - You might not be able to get into a higher position as a private practice nurse, plus the number of jobs available is fewer.

Whether you choose the hospital setting or the private practice setting, you will still be able to do what you do best - care for patients. However, most nurses find that one setting is a better fit than another. And that decision is up to you.

Certified Nurse Assistant’s Duties

2009-03-26T08:31:00.000-07:00

Among the vast array of health care careers lies the area of direct care giving. These professionals are often Home Health Assistant (HHA) or Home Health Aides, Personal Care Assistants, Nurse's Aides, Patient Care Technicians and several other titles, depending on the work environment and the region.

Certified Nursing Assistants work closely with patients and provide assistance with daily living tasks, such as: dressing (according to patients' needs, ranging from minimal assistance to totally dependent); bathing (bed baths, tub baths, showers); feeding (serving meals, physically feeding patients who are unable to do so themselves); toileting (assisting with bedpans & urinals, help to the bathroom, provide incontinent care for patients who need it); vital signs (Blood pressure, pulse, etc); Catheter caring (emptying, upkeep of Intake & Output sheets when necessary); answering call lights in a timely fashion; assisting patients with ambulation, when needed; range of Motion Exercises, as prescribed by physical therapy; assisting residents in wheelchairs (a lot of heavy lifting at times); making beds and keeping the patients' rooms and belongings neat and organized; ensuring that bedridden patients are turned at least every two hours, to ensure comfort and to prevent bedsores; reporting all changes, physical and mental, of the patients to the nurse; Post Mortem Care; safety awareness - keeping an eye on wanderers and watching for potentially dangerous situations; Documentation - daily documentation on the care provided to each patient; and anything else that needs to be done.

Certified Nurse Assistants are required to lift patients, assist a patient that is falling and carry heavy medical equipment. They should have the physical dexterity to perform skills that require fine motor movement. Basic observations are made by the CNA; therefore they should possess the senses of sight, hearing, smell, and touch.

Certified Nursing Assistants can be found in nursing homes, hospitals, adult day health centers, assisted living facilities, even personal homes. Wherever there is a need for personal care, Certified Nursing Assistants are the ones who, for the most part, perform the most basic needs for patients, young and old alike. They work under the supervision of a nurse. Since aides have extensive daily contact with each patient, they are keys to providing vital information on the patients' conditions to the nurse.

A certified nursing assistant's job does not end with the physical needs of the patients. This is a job which requires compassion and a desire to make people comfortable and happy. Residents of nursing homes often suffer from depression and/or dementia, and the certified nursing assistant is often the closest human contact afforded to many of these people. A sense of humor helps in this field.

The ANA Continuing Nursing Degree Online

2009-03-24T15:49:00.000-07:00

The American Nurses Association has made it easier for prospective nurses to earn a degree; easier still to recruit needed nurses in the US. The ANA has launched a nursing degree online available for those nurses seeking a continuing education in their field – an additional motivation for career-oriented nurses seeking to finish or keep with and make better of their profession.

The ANA continuing nursing degree online offers additional education for nurses through ISM’s or Independent Study Modules. This shall help nurses who aim to broaden their skills, knowledge, and abilities to cope with the changing field of health care asguided by the ANA's Scope and Standards of Practice for Nursing Professional Development (2002R), The American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation Manual for Accreditation as a Provider of Continuing Nursing Education (2004-2005), and the ANA's Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretative Statements (2001). Through this method, the ANA continuing nursing degree online is able to provide more nurses with the opportunity to earn more contact hours in their lifelong continuing nursing education learning. This shall also allow the nurses to pursue their future career goals in the nursing profession while helping them meet the mandatory requirements for their certification, license renewal, or promotion in their workplace.

With the ISM’s / Independent Study Modules adapted in the continuing nursing degree online program, the enrolled nurses are able to learn and retain knowledge by completion of the course at their own pace, within their own time frame, and at the convenience of a computer access of their own choice. The nurses also become more fully engaged in the learning process through self-testing and immediate exams correction with immediate feedback explaining the rationale for the correct answers, re-reading of the lessons and re-taking the posttest as many times as necessary until a pass grade of 75% or more accuracy, better yet a hundred percent excellence, is achieved; plus also allowing the students to request their evaluation of the ISM to better improve the ANA online nursing continuing education approach.

Upon completion of the ISM assisted ANA continuing nursing degree online course, the ANA trained nurse is immediately provided with the Continuing Nursing Education Attendance and Contact Hour Certificate so he can meet the requirements of their employer, professional association, and credentialing and licensing boards, as well as fulfilling his own professional goals and personal fulfillment. The ISM design of the online course is highly recognized as it assures that a current, relevant, and significant learning content on nursing as a profession reaches various individual nurses in different practice roles, specialties, and settings, all important to ANA and the entire field of nursing and health care.

Nursing Educators: The "Other" Nursing Shortage

2009-03-23T06:53:00.000-07:00

The following article deals with one of this blogs most serious issues; the nursing educator shortage. While the PHEF has shed light on this issue, much more attention needs to be paid to this crisis by the healthcare profession. Unfortunately, if you are in pretty much any other state but Pennsylvania, you may not have any organizations that provide financial aid for current nurses to become nurse educators.

The following article was written by Robert Beatson for the San Francisco Chronicle.

For many years now, much has been documented and reported about the national shortage of qualified clinical nurses in the United States. But what about the "other" nursing shortage? That is, the nursing educators responsible for training the caregivers of tomorrow.

Across the country, the nursing educator shortage is a serious issue that will continue through at least the next decade. The shortage of nurses with advanced degrees choosing teaching careers at nursing colleges, universities or teaching hospitals is due to a number of reasons: budgetary constraints, an aging faculty population and increasing competition from a wide variety of clinical sources. But for nurses who decide to take the classroom path, the career opportunities are abundant and the options for obtaining proper teaching qualifications are becoming increasingly flexible.

Bracing for the future

According to Joanne Pohl, associate dean of nursing at the University of Michigan, more and more nurse faculty members are nearing retirement in the next 10 years, and there's a strong possibility that there will be an inadequate amount of replacements to train future nurses unless something is done to combat the trend. What's more, the growing shortage of nursing educators also threatens to adversely affect the clinical side of nursing, slowing down the rate of students graduating from nursing programs.

"Out of 50 tenure-track faculty at the University of Michigan, 40 percent are 60 years of age or older and approaching retirement," said Pohl late last year. "These are the faculty preparing the next generation of faculty."

Recruiting nurse educators for the classroom is proving to be a challenge as well. Among the most critical issues faced by schools of nursing regarding recruitment and retention are a limited pool of qualified applicants, less than competitive salaries and high faculty workload.

Reinforcements on the way?

These downward trends will continue to confront the nursing education profession now and at least for the next several years, but at least one positive can be taken away - the time has never been better to pursue a career in nurse education.

Hundreds of nursing colleges, university nursing programs and teaching hospitals across the country are seeking to fill educator positions. And with help from national recruiting efforts and increasing government funding, efforts to attract qualified applicants and fill these positions are becoming much more creative, organized and widespread. Many of today's nursing educator programs, for example, are recognizing the importance of providing more flexible schedules, tuition assistance and innovative practicum/academic curricula to facilitate the needs of today's budding nurse educator.

Professional nursing organizations are championing the cause as well. For example, Nurses for a Healthier Tomorrow (NHT), a coalition of 42 nursing and health care organizations working to attract people to the nursing profession, recently launched a national outreach campaign to increase the number of nurse educators nationwide.

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), the national organization for nursing education programs, representing more than 560 schools of nursing at universities and four-year colleges, is involved in numerous initiatives to secure federal funding for faculty development programs, collecting data on faculty vacancy rates, identifying strategies to address the shortage and garnering media attention on this important issue.

Ultimately, the nursing shortage issue will be resolved when "legislators, policy makers and the public understand" the critical, interdependent relationship between nurse educators and nurse clinicians, said AACN president Kathleen Long, Ph.D.

Educational requirements, salaries vary widely

Nurse educators who seek employment in an academic environment must possess, at the very least, a master's degree and preferably a doctorate if they expect to advance to higher, tenured academic ranks such as associate professor and professor.

Along those lines, a growing number of master's degree and post-graduate certificate programs are available to prepare nurses specifically for advanced educator positions.

Often offered online, these programs are designed to prepare advanced practice nurses to teach, develop curricula, counsel students and more. In addition, NHT cites dozens of "baccalaureate-to-Ph.D. programs" that consist of intensive clinical experiences and attempt to move students through graduate level studies at an accelerated pace.

Nationwide, a number of other innovative approaches to the nurse educator shortage are taking place:

- Schools partner with hospitals to cross-team teaching and clinical roles.

- Fast-track programs advance the most gifted undergraduate nursing students.

- In states like Kansas and Missouri, where the demand for nursing educators is especially high, nursing colleges and universities are adding more innovative, flexible programs to accommodate easier transitions into the profession. One school of nursing in Kansas City has even added junior faculty positions.

- Nurse educator certificates now exist that allow graduate nursing students the opportunity to specialize as both educators and clinicians.

- Many federal and private funding sources are available to help students who are pursuing graduate nursing education. The Nurse Reinvestment Act, for example, includes a student loan repayment program for nurses who agree to serve in faculty roles after graduation. Similar programs also are available through the National Health Service Corps and the Bureau of Health Professions.

- Compensation wise, NHT reports that nurse educators in academic settings can expect to encounter wide salary ranges owing to rank, education (master's degree vs. doctorate) and type of institution (university vs. small liberal arts college). In 2002, full-time nurse educators with nine-month appointments earned salaries ranging anywhere from $25,000 to $185,000. Those in leadership and administrative roles - nursing deans for example - typically earn more than $100,000. In 2002-03, associate deans with doctorates earned between $93,000 and $111,000, whereas assistant deans averaged between $71,000 and $93,000. In summary, the national nursing educator shortage is a reality facing today's nursing profession. Yet it's a challenge that eventually can be met through accelerated recruitment efforts across the country, increased funding from the government and other sources and collaborative academic and clinical programs designed to accommodate today's dynamic nursing profession. In the meantime, nursing education continues to serve as an attractive, achievable, well-paying and rewarding career option for nursing professionals who possess the right skill sets as well as the desire to make a positive impact on tomorrow's nurses.

Big Incentives to Attract New Nurses

2009-03-20T07:48:00.000-07:00

Article written by Debra Wood, RN, contributor for Nurse Connect

Today’s nurses are in great demand and short supply, which has forced some hospitals to offer generous bonuses and other innovative incentives to recruit new nurses to their facilities and keep their professional caregivers at the bedside. From tuition reimbursements and longevity bonuses to flat screen TVs and mortgage down payments, nothing seems too far fetched to consider in the today’s health care marketplace.
“We are all pulling from the same pool of nurses,” said Vicki Wadman, RN, director of recruitment for Memorial Healthcare System in Hollywood, Florida. “Overall, the pool of nurses is limited. We are doing things to encourage people to go into nursing.”

Memorial operates six hospitals in South Florida and offers scholarship programs for employees who want to continue their education. The program pays for two years of nursing education—up to $6,000—in exchange for a two-year commitment to work at Memorial.

“Every organization is going to have some issues with the nursing shortage and have a hard time filling certain openings,” said Margaret Gibson, the manager of employment and employee relations at Mercy Hospital in Miami. “You want to retain experienced nurses. You want a committed, dedicated workforce. Ultimately, that will allow you to provide excellence in patient-care services.”

Experts predict that the hiring situation will remain challenging for hospitals in the coming years, giving nurses the opportunity to be more selective about where they work. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates employment of registered nurses will grow 23 percent between 2006 and 2016, from 2.5 million to more than 3 million.

Mercy, which currently employs more than 500 registered nurses and 60 licensed practical nurses, has initiated many inventive programs aimed at recruiting and retaining nurses and other health professionals. Gibson reports that the hospital’s aim is to not only improve patient care, but to also cut down on the high cost of turnover.

Consequently, Mercy now offers retention bonuses on a graduated scale. Nurses who have worked at Mercy for two years receive a $3,000 bonus, those employed for five years earn an extra $5,000, and those who stay on for 10 years receive an additional $10,000.

“It appears to be working and is well received by our nurses,” Gibson says.

For nurses with student loans, Mercy also offers a loan forgiveness program, paying up to $5,000 during a two-year period toward loan repayment.

In addition, all Mercy employees can participate in its commuter benefit as well as the hospital’s new “back-up care” program which helps employees find alternate care for a sick child or aging parent, 24 hours a day.

To offset Miami’s high housing costs, where median sale prices reached $365,000 in 2007, Mercy also offers a down-payment program for first-time homebuyers. Nurses can receive $10,000 toward the purchase of a home in exchange for a five-year commitment to remain at Mercy. If they leave early, they must repay a portion of the funds.

South Nassau Communities Hospital in Oceanside, New York, where the median housing price is $477,200, is helping employees in a different way. It built an apartment complex within walking distance of the hospital and offers the units to nurses at a reduced rent.

Trinity Medical Center in Birmingham, Alabama, has tried some unique approaches to recruiting. Last year, all new nursing graduates who joined the workforce received a 19-inch flat-screen television.

“It seemed to help,” said Angela Harris, clinical professional recruiter at Trinity Medical Center. “It’s amazing what a flat-screen TV will do.”

This year, the hospital offered a partial loan repayment program and 39 new nurses signed on. Harris also promotes the hospital’s Web-based “bid shift” program. Nurses earn points for each extra shift they work and can spend those points on everything from a car wash to a television or digital camera. Unpopular shifts offer more points and incentives.

“We don’t have a problem staffing those hard-to-fill shifts any more,” Harris said.

Memorial Healthcare also has instituted a free concierge service for employees, who can get their car washed, order flowers, have the dry cleaning taken care of, arrange for a house sitter or plan a trip while they are at work.

“We think of it as improving the quality of the work life. Clearly it helps with recruiting, and we hope it helps in retention,” said Ray Kendrick, chief human resources officer at Memorial.

Nurse residency programs are also being used to improve the work environment, keep nurses at the bedside and recruit new graduates who seek support as they transition into practice.

Ellen Whalen, RN, MSN, MS, chief nursing officer at USC University and Norris Cancer Hospitals in Los Angeles, reported that nursing professors are encouraging their students to look for well organized, theory-based, new-graduate programs, such as the Versant RN Residency program her hospital offers. It provides residents with preceptors, mentors and debriefing sessions.

“New grads are drawn to the program for these reasons,” Whalen said. “Our residents become well integrated into the culture and develop relationships quickly with their colleagues.”

Yvonne Brookes, RN, director of clinical learning and executive sponsor of the Versant RN Residency at Baptist Health South Florida in Miami, reports significant increases in the number of nurse applicants since the health system started offering the residency program.

“The reputation and description of the support is bringing in new grads,” said Brookes, adding that for the August cohort, the hospital received 225 applications for 126 positions.

The program also has helped Baptist Health keep its new hires. Turnover rates for new grads decreased from 22.3 percent to 11.8 percent in the first year. Altogether, Versant hospitals report turnover rates of approximately five percent during the first year and 11 percent at two years, compared to national averages between 35 and 60 percent at one year and 57 percent at two years.

The program also benefits preceptors, according to Brookes, who can see the results of their work and appreciate that the new nurses are more likely to stay.

“We have a supportive environment, and that will increase recruitment even more,” Brookes said. “It has increased the professionalism overall.”

As hospitals continue to roll out the welcome mat in new and inventive ways, job seekers can expect to reap the benefits of financial incentives, consumer-based perks and specialized on-the-job training.

Teaching Effectively in Very Large Classrooms

2009-03-19T06:46:00.000-07:00

A read a tremendous article that deals with the challenges and solutions to teaching in a very large classroom. Given that the Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation (a non-profit organization concentrating on increasing nurses and nurse educators) is currently pushing for more nursing educators, I found this very helpful for any potential nursing teachers.

The following article was written by VickyRN, a staff member of allnurses.com. The complete article can be found at:

http://allnurses.com/nursing-blogs/teaching-effectively-very-375896.html

There is a huge difference in teaching 30 students, as opposed to 140 students. Large classrooms can be noisy, crowded, and full of distractions. The students can be disrespectful and out of control, with pockets of students texting, carrying on private conversations, and coming and going at will. Sound familiar? Learning strategies that work well in small groups are often inappropriate for such large audiences. What strategies, then, can the nurse educator use to facilitate a positive learning environment in large classrooms?

First and foremost, the nurse educator must establish order in the classroom. This is critical, because without order, learning is hindered for all student participants, especially those who want to learn. The syllabus needs to include strict behavioral guidelines (“class etiquette rules”), as well as clearly defined consequences for not adhering to the behavioral guidelines. My university has just enacted the “Disruptive Student Policy,” which backs up consequential wording in the syllabus and allows educators to excuse disruptive students from the classroom. If the student persists in disruptive behavior, then the student may be expelled from the course entirely.

Benefits Play a Big Role in Nurses’ Employment Decisions

2009-03-17T09:00:00.000-07:00

By E’Louise Ondash, RN, contributor

There’s no doubt about it. Benefits are important to nurses when they consider where to work or whether to remain with an employer, but the benefits they want can vary with age, marital status, health, family situation and career path.
“You need to have flexible benefits (because) there is a much greater emphasis now on balancing work life, and because throughout the life cycle of your career, you’re going to have a need for different benefits,” explained Veronica Zaman, RN. She is executive director of workforce development and talent management at Scripps Health in San Diego, California, a nonprofit community health system that employs more than 3,000 nurses. “We have an aging workforce and we also have a multi-generational work force—new grads who are coming to nursing as a second career.”

Scripps Health has given a lot of attention to benefits, she added, and it watches what the competition is offering.

“The trend a few years ago was to have huge sign-on bonuses, and there are some pockets where that is still a strong attraction. We offer a strong flexible benefits plan so we can focus our efforts on retention rather than bringing people through the door for signing bonuses.”

Ask nurses and they’ll tell you that they expect other benefits beyond major medical, according to Ric Spurgeon, RN, a Seattle nurse and caseworker for Medicare recipients for a large insurance company.

“The benefits are a huge deal, especially since many nurses are single mothers,” he said. “They want items such as subsidized child care, long-term care insurance, legal insurance, retirement accounts, pension plans, employee stock plans and several choices of medical and dental insurance.”

Although not a single mother, Spurgeon likes having six medical plans from which to choose. He said he picked one that meets his needs.

“Your choice will depend upon your state of health, utilization and where most of your expenses lie—whether it’s medications, hospital or doctor visits because of chronic conditions. I prefer a health savings account (HSA).”

Spurgeon uses pre-tax deductions from his paycheck to fund an HSA.

One St. Louis nurse who works part time as evening nurse manager at a large teaching hospital, continues to “toy with thoughts of retirement.”

“I look at it seriously every six months,” said Patricia, a 40-year-veteran who asked that her last name not be used. “But as long as working is still something I enjoy and I have a schedule I can manipulate, I find it hard to justify giving up the great medical coverage we have at the price we pay. So I suppose you could say that insurance is certainly a factor in keeping me working at the moment.”

Even though she works only two days a week—the minimum to receive benefits—Patricia has health, vision and dental insurance, vacation and sick time, tuition reimbursement and an employer-matched 401K. And although she has remained at the same hospital since her 1967 graduation, “I continue to get lots of recruitment-type mail from other hospitals,” she said. “The information I get always highlights benefits, so I can only assume it’s pretty important. Interestingly, the tuition reimbursement and the 401K seem pretty important to young nurses also.”

A national telephone survey of 250 nurses, conducted in October by Aflac Insurance, confirms that benefits play a big role in the decision-making process for nurses when determining where they should work. Nearly nine out of 10 of the nurses said a hospital's benefits package is one of the most important factors when determining where they choose to work.

More than half of those surveyed reported that they would switch jobs solely based on benefits.

Some nurses even want so-called “voluntary” accident and disability insurance; that is, they are willing to pay the full premiums if their employers offer it.

Step-up Programs Encourage Advancement from LVN to RN

2009-03-16T06:21:00.000-07:00

Climbing the nursing school ladder is made easier by programs that offer a step up for licensed vocational nurses aiming to become registered nurses.

Climbing the nursing school ladder is made easier by programs that offer a step up for licensed vocational nurses aiming to become registered nurses.

Licensed vocational nurses, or LVNs, also known as licensed practical nurses, or LPNs, complete a one-year program, available at roughly 1,200 state-approved programs across the countrymostly in vocational or technical schools or community colleges, according to the United States Department of Labors Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). They are trained to provide basic bedside care, from taking vital signs to preparing and giving injections, applying dressings, preparing tests and assisting with patient hygiene. LVNs work under the direction of a registered nurse.
While the LVN is an important member of the health care team, the BLS reports that hospital employment of LVNs is on the decline, and many LVNs are being encouraged to pursue their RN education. Step-up programs provide LVNs a smooth transition into the RN curriculum.

At the College of the Siskiyous, in Weed, California, a new grant has allowed for the creation of a step-up program, which will begin in the fall of 2007. According to Kathy Gassaway, administrative secretary of the nursing program, the program fills a void that forced students to seek further education elsewhere.

A lot of the LVN students have gone to other schools to continue their education, Gassaway said. Because there is such a need for RNs, not only in this area, but all across the country, we received a grant from the chancellors to start the program here.

The College of the Siskiyous LVN-to-RN Step-up Program is two semesters, entering students into the last two semesters of the typical RN program. It requires pre-requisites, including human anatomy and physiology, microbiology, sociology, psychology and college composition and mathematics, among other courses, and requires a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5.

Although its only in its preliminary stages, Gassaway expects the step-up program to be a popular choice among the schools 26 or 27 LVN students.

We promote the program, but how many of them will do it, I dont know, she said. We started with a certified nurse aide (CNA) and promoted going on with the step ladder approach to the LVN. Of course, we want all of our students to go on and get their BSN and masters degrees!

Southwestern College, in Chula Vista, California, has had a step-up program since the beginning of timeat least 30 years, said Sandra Comstock, RN, director of nursing and health occupations at the community college south of San Diego, but interest has increased in recent years.

Its definitely more popular today, she said. There were a couple of years when nobody was enrolling, but the shortage has opened more opportunities to advance.
Although the program has a one- to two-year waiting list, which is similar to the RN program, Comstock explained that for many students, it provides a great opportunity for students to learn a different role. Students who have completed the LVN program take a summer transition course, which involves lecture and hospital learning, and then mix in with RN students who have already completed their first year of the RN program. After one year of hospital and classroom learning, they are eligible to take the NCLEX.

The step-up program is a good way to transition into the RN role for career advancement, Comstock concluded. The LVN plays an important role, but once theyve had that experience, most are very successful as RNs.

Burnout: The Effects Of Unavoidable Job Stress

2009-03-13T06:17:00.000-07:00

By Douglas Hardwick, Ph.D.

Stress seems to be an inevitable part of any job. Even minor things can lead to feelings of stress. Petty arguments with supervisors and conflicts with co-workers are among the most common every day stressors. For some employees, however, the level of stress experienced goes far beyond job strain and the irritation of daily hassles. For some employees, the level of stress experienced on the job builds up until it is overwhelming and leads to a condition called burnout.

What is burnout? In general, burnout is described as emotional exhaustion. The most common symptoms associated with this emotional exhaustion include overwhelming fatigue, headaches, stomachaches, and impaired sleep. And, as burnout develops, it often leads to a deterioration in social skills. Individuals in the midst of burnout just do not interact with others as they did in the past. They often withdraw from others. They may lose patience more easily. They may become more abrupt and abrasive in their dealings with others. Their language on the job may become cruder. They may appear to be moody and depressed.

Over time, burnout has profound effects on job performance. Simply put, job performance suffers. Victims of burnout are likely to reduce the amount of work they do. They may avoid tasks that they find most stressful. Their absenteeism is likely to increase. In the worst case, they may suddenly quit their jobs with little notice to their employers. Supervisors may not be able to recognize burnout for what it is, but they certainly will notice the effects of burnout on job performance.

Burnout often occurs in those jobs we think of as the helping professions. Professions such as teaching, law enforcement, nursing, and social work are all potential breeding grounds for burnout. Interestingly, within these professions, burnout tends to strike the most dedicated and most idealistic individuals. While burnout has been observed for years in the so-called helping professions, it can occur in a wide range of jobs. The key seems to be the presence of inescapable, day-to-day frustrations which build up overtime.

The frustrations that lead to burnout can take many forms. Studies of professions such as teaching and nursing have suggested that burnout occurs when workers begin to believe that no one appreciates the work they do or the help they provide. Over time the difficulty of their task and the presence of ambitious, but ambiguous, goals may lead them to believe that their efforts have no real impact. When the feeling "it doesn't matter what I do" sets in, burnout is not far behind. Of course, these feelings are not limited to the helping professions. Anytime workers feel overwhelmed by the demands of their job and think that there is little support for their efforts, burnout becomes a threat.

Fortunately, there are several things that can be done to eliminate or reduce the development of burnout. First of all, it is important for supervisors to actively support their subordinates, to treat them fairly, and to provide them with appropriate feedback. Second, it is important for employees to develop a realistic view of what they can accomplish on the job. Unrealistic goals are a recipe for frustration and stress. Third, employees need to maintain a balanced lifestyle. Individuals who blur the boundaries between work and home are good candidates for burnout. Finally, employees need to learn specific techniques for reducing and managing their own perceived levels of stress. These techniques may include exercise and various relaxation procedures. Meditation, tai chi, and qigong are all examples of holistic health practices that might prove helpful. Practitioners have long argued that these disciplines enhance relaxation and reduce stress in the individual.

Nursing School Faculty Shortage Solution? Have Nurses Teach

2009-03-12T07:19:00.000-07:00

Article reprinted from Nurse Connect

By Glenna Murdock, RN, contributor

What three words pop up in nearly every conversation regarding health care these days? The nursing shortage. The insufficient numbers of nurses in our country is a problem that forces a look at nursing education with a creative eye, in an effort to find ways to produce more nurses and to better utilize the existing nurse workforce.
Due to its immense size and to the broad scope of services it provides, Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio is the employer of one of the largest nursing staffs in the U.S. Those in nursing leadership at the Clinic, acutely aware of the expanding shortage problem, took a proactive step in 2005 by inviting area deans, directors and faculty of area schools of nursing to come together to discuss the problem and possible solutions. The meeting was labeled the Deans’ Roundtable Faculty Initiative.

Cleveland Clinic’s nursing leadership, along with the director of the Center for Health Affairs in Cleveland, focused their attention on the fact that, in the prior year, 1,500 qualified candidates had been denied admission to area nursing schools due to a shortage of faculty, particularly in clinical areas. In order to produce more graduates, formulating a strategy to increase the numbers of faculty would be essential.

A master’s degree is not required for a nurse to fill the role of a clinical instructor, so nursing leadership offered a proposal to the schools of nursing: “Use our nurses as clinical educators.”

“The idea was not well received initially,” said Joan Kavanagh, MSN, RN, director of nursing education at the Clinic. “The deans felt that nurses could not move easily from one program to another, given the differences and organizing philosophies of each school. But, we continued to meet and the Roundtable became a classic example of team building. Now we are friendly and cooperative with one another and laugh about the resistance to the idea that existed in the beginning.”

The idea has proven popular with the Clinic, schools of nursing, nurses and student nurses alike. Matching nurses with faculty positions is made efficient by the use of a database that keeps track of teaching opportunities and of the nurses who are seeking them. Nurses with BSNs can teach skills labs and clinicals. A master’s degree is required for teaching online and classroom courses.

The database went live in May 2007 and, to date, over 100 positions, 95 percent of them clinical, have been filled.

Because many of the nurses coming in as adjunct faculty have no prior teaching experience, the Clinic organizes a one-day Faculty Boot Camp orientation. The individual components of the orientation, including the roles and responsibilities of faculty, formative and summative evaluation, organization of the clinical day and critical thinking, are taught by experienced faculty from the schools of nursing.

Students are invited to voice their opinions regarding what they need and expect from clinical instructors. According to Kavanagh, the students are impressed that their views are sought and valued.

“Nurses who have accepted faculty positions tell us that teaching has truly re-energized and enhanced their nursing practice,” Kavanagh stated. “For many, it has also increased their interest in pursuing an advanced degree.

“Especially uplifting,” Kavanagh continued, “is the trust and goodwill that have developed among the Roundtable participants who had previously viewed one another as the competition. Now we know that all of us are in this together and we are working together to find solutions.”

Nursing Scholarship Programs Funding

2009-03-11T07:02:00.000-07:00

Scholarships are financial aids provided on the basis of academic merit awarded to an institution or an individual for the purposes of furthering their education. They are offered by governments, colleges and private, and other outside sources. They are generally awarded based on the financial need, academic achievement, athletic achievement, community involvement, nationality or ethnicity of the individual. Like grants, they do not have to be repaid.

Nursing Scholarships and grants are provided to compensate for the critical shortage of nurses around the globe.

Many Nursing Scholarship Programs provide tuition fees, required fees, other costs including required books, clinical supplies, laboratory expenses, research facilities, etc., and other scholarship benefits. Preference is given to qualified applicants with the greatest financial need who are enrolled full-time in an undergraduate nursing program. Nursing scholarships or loans are not only granted to the needy and with the highest grades.

Nursing scholarships are given in exchange to: practicing full time as primary care nurse practitioner in a community, teaching in a nursing school, employment as a nurse administrator in health care agencies, working for the Department of Health, service for a period of 2 years at health care facilities, and/or assist in the area of mental health research.

The major sources of nursing scholarships for students are the state and federal governments. Some are sponsored by individual donors or private organizations. Since they often have more nursing scholarships funds available, more and more federal dollars are used to promote underserved areas for nursing students who can commit to service after graduation in a medically underserved institution or region.

Professional nursing organizations, such as the American Nursing Association (ANA) and other active political voices, and many colleges and universities with nursing program, have built up generous scholarship and grant funds for both undergraduate and graduate nurses because of the lack of funding across public and private sources. These grants are administered to nursing scholarship programs to help shore up flagging nursing programs, provide needed funds for new facilities, and provide money to hire more well-trained nursing faculty.

Nursing scholarship forms can be accessed online or you can obtain copies from schools’ financial aid offices. Requirements must be completed at favorable dates or deadlines. They are in first come first served basis. You can explore the web to be able to find what kinds of nursing scholarship programs are offered. You can also find them in private sector loans, grants and other assistance that your local service organization provides.

10 Benefits to Working as a Travel Nurse

2009-03-10T05:08:00.000-07:00

Melissa Wirkus, a staff writer for TravelNurse.com, wrote a very interesting article concerning being a travel nurse.

Ms Wirkus writes:
Great pay, endless opportunities and limitless adventure are just a few of the reasons why nurses choose to travel. Whether you want to explore the four corners of the U.S. or find the ideal place to settle down, travel nursing provides excellent opportunities for adventure, career enhancement and personal fulfillment.

Along with this excerpt she also highlights the 10 benefits to working as a travel nurse, which are:

1. Discover new places

From the natural beauty of the Alaskan frontier to the thrills of New York City, there are no limits to where travel nursing can take you. Assignments are available in all 50 states, from quaint towns in the Midwest to every major metropolis. “I love being able to see the country and taking advantage of what each city has to offer,” said Mandi Smith, RN, who has been traveling with staffing company NursesRx for three years. Traveling provides nurses with the opportunity to live in any place they desire, something few professions can offer.

2. Freedom and flexibility

Travel nursing provides nurses with the unbeatable freedom and flexibility to choose when and where they want to work. Nurses are able to take time off between assignments to spend time with family and friends, or take an extended vacation. Annie Kennedy, RN, who is on assignment with travel staffing company Medical Express, recently took a trip to Guatemala to volunteer at an orphanage and clinic serving underprivileged youth. Her flexible schedule allowed her to take time off between assignments to pursue her interests and help others.

3. Professional growth

Working at different facilities, from top research and teaching facilities to rural hospitals, enables you to broaden your skill set and learn new techniques. "Travel nursing is a great way for nurses to expand their professional résumés while they enjoy exciting new experiences around the country," said Linda Gardner, recruiter for NursesRx. Not only does travel nursing showcase your adaptability, but it also proves you’re always up for a challenge and ready to learn from each new facility you visit.

4. Job security

The nursing shortage has RNs all across the nation in a very enviable position where their skills are in high demand. Healthcare facilities are in need of qualified nurses to fill permanent staff shortages and meet seasonal needs. “It’s the one job where you know you will never be out of work,” said Kathryn Madigan, RN, who travels with staffing company American Mobile Healthcare. Nurses who travel enjoy the job security of knowing there will always be another assignment waiting once their current assignment ends.

5. New friends

Getting to know new people, from your new colleagues at the facility to friends you make outside of work, traveling allows nurses from all walks of life to intertwine with new people and cultures. Travel nursing puts you in touch with people that you would otherwise never meet, from new neighbors to friends who share similar hobbies and interests. Establishing strong friendships as you get to know the city is one of the most rewarding parts of traveling, and something you can take with you for years to come.

6. Make more money

Travel nurses earn generous hourly pay rates and most companies offer shift differentials, overtime and some facilities offer completion bonuses. “Traveling nurses are compensated with excellent packages including competitive hourly wages, free furnished housing and health insurance starting on day one of their assignment," Gardner said. Some companies even offer referral bonuses to the RNs who refer their friends—just another example of how lucrative travel nursing can be.

7. No workplace politics

Travel nurses don’t become embroiled in politics or management issues. They go in, do their job and focus on patient care. “You can avoid hospital politics as a traveling nurse. All of your paperwork is done through us and you are not involved in the bureaucracy of the internal staff,” Gardner explained. “Through NursesRx, you have the benefit of our 24 hour clinical liaison support; experienced RNs who can address any clinical or workplace concerns you might encounter for the duration of your assignment." If a practice environment isn’t an ideal fit, a new assignment is just a few weeks away.

8. Find the ideal place to settle down

If you’re thinking of making a permanent move to a new location, working as a travel nurse is a great way to “test the waters” before committing to the move. Find out what it’s like to live in the charming countryside of New England and then switch gears to live the life of a beach enthusiast in San Diego. Comparing different cities and parts of the country by way of your assignment choices is an ideal way to find out where you want to establish a permanent residence before making a commitment.

9. Avoid burnout

Pursuing a career as a travel nurse is also a way to avoid the “burnout” that many permanent nurses experience. Whether you’re tired of hospital politics or feel as if your career is at a standstill, travel nursing can be just the revival you need. Experiencing new faces and places, while continuing to do what you love most—caring for people, is a priceless opportunity that few other professions offer.

10. Develop new interests/hobbies

Exploring new destinations can lead to new experiences, such as skiing if you’re near the mountains and surfing if you’re near the beach. “Traveling has allowed me to develop new interests,” Smith said. “I like to explore a new city either on my bike or by going hiking.” The options are endless when traveling and a new location almost certainly brings about a love for a new hobby or fun activity that you never expected.

This particular article has been reprinted from:

http://www.nurseconnect.com/Resources/ArticleProfile.aspx?Id=333238

Nursing Spectrum Networking and Educational Event

2009-03-09T09:25:00.001-07:00

On Tuesday, April 7, 2009, Nursing Spectrum will be holding a networking and educational event at Dave and Busters in Philadelphia.

> Free for RNs, Graduate Nurses and Nursing Students
> Free Parking
> Free CE Seminars (earn up to 4 contact hours)
> Free Coffee Break
> Free Wheel of Fortune Prizes and Caricature Artist *
> GRAND PRIZE DRAWING: Enter to win a $500 Visa Gift Card (Must be present to win!)
> SPECIAL DRAWING: Drop your resume off for a chance to win a Portable GPS Navigation System. Total of 3 will be given away. (Must be present to win!)
> Arrive any time between 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
> Career Opportunities. You are encouraged to dress professionally and bring copies of your resume for on-site interviews.

To register, please visit:
http://events.nursingspectrum.com/event.cfm?EID=683

Nurses, Physicians Encouraged to Use Surgical Safety Checklist

2009-03-08T09:50:00.000-07:00

The following article is from Nurse.com and written by Catherine Spader, RN, who is a contributing writer for Nursing Spectrum/NurseWeek

A surgical checklist study proved so successful at saving lives and reducing complications that the Institute of Healthcare Improvement is calling on every hospital in the country to use the checklist at least once before April 1.

The new study, published in the Jan. 29, issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, found the World Health Organization's Surgical Safety Checklist, a simple but comprehensive checklist used during major surgeries, significantly reduced incidences of surgery-related deaths and complications.

"You don't rely on memory to complete a complicated recipe, so why would you rely on memory for a complicated surgical procedure that is so critical to the individual lying on the OR table?" said Fran Griffin, RRT, MPA, director at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, based in Cambridge, Mass.

The study collected data from 7,688 patients at eight hospitals in the WHO's six worldwide regions. Researchers found major complications that followed surgery fell from 11% in the baseline period to 7% after introduction of the checklist. Inpatient deaths that followed major operations fell by more than 40% (from 1.5% to 0.8%).

Outcomes of the checklist's use are so impressive the IHI is sponsoring the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist Sprint initiative. The goal is to have every hospital in the country test the checklist at least one time by April 1. The ultimate goal is for facilities to move toward full implementation of the checklist during all surgical procedures.

A Conversation Piece

Most checklists in use today tend to be silent paper exercises in which a lone nurse checks off boxes. In contrast, the WHO checklist is a tool of communication and functions as a list of team talking points.

"The most important thing the checklist does is make people think as a team about all the steps they need to ensure what will happen," said Atul Gawande, MD, coauthor of the checklist study and a surgeon at Brigham and Women's Hospital and associate professor at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston.

This checklist concept does not revolve around a piece of paper but a conversation in which one person, usually a nurse, takes the lead. Everyone on the team has to verbally respond to the points on the list, including physicians, anesthesiologists, and other nurses.

The patient also is considered a team member and an active participant in the checklist conversation. During the preprocedural portion of the checklist, the patient must verbally confirm his or her identity, the surgical site, procedure, and consent.

Becoming A High Reliability Industry

Evidence from high reliability industries, such as nuclear power and aviation, has shown an oral check is more likely than a written check to capture and prevent errors, according to Alex B. Haynes, MD, MPH, lead author of the study and researcher at Harvard School of Public Health.

In fact, the checklist doesn't need to be documented on a piece of paper at all. The checklist conversation can be adapted to suit the needs and resources of individual facilities and can be followed from a poster visibly displayed in the OR.

"It's not intended to be a form of documentation or regulation," said Haynes who also is a surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. He adds that organizations have the option to adapt it to serve that purpose if they choose.

Making it Work

Adapting and implementing the safety checklist can require hurdling some obstacles, according to Jodi Bloom, RN, BSN, CNOR, staff nurse in the OR at University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle, the only U.S hospital that participated in the checklist study.

"Many of us thought the checklist conversation was just one more thing we had to do to get a case started," Bloom said. "Now we think it's an invaluable tool. It collectively forces everyone in the room to pay attention, focus on the patient, discuss the patient, and be on the same page."

The checklist conversation can take as little as two minutes to complete. "If you try it with one case, you learn very quickly how to best adapt it to your practice," said Bloom. "Our surgical teams were accustomed to performing timeouts, and this came to be incorporated into our practice as an extended timeout. Now it has become innate."

Another key to success is to test the checklist on a small scale first, such as with the cases of one surgeon who is enthusiastic about the concept. It also is a good idea to present the checklist concept to the entire OR staff before implementation and ask for and incorporate their input in adapting the list.

Stimulus bill gives nursing homes reason to smile

2009-03-04T05:08:00.000-08:00

It’s OK to crack a grin now that Congress has reached a tentative agreement on the colossal economic stimulus package. Nursing homes have a lot to be happy about.
Here’s why:

—The biggest bang of the package, of course, is the $87 billion in increased Medicaid funding. The House and Senate agreed to an across-the-board increase in the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage of 6.2%, according to Susan Feeney, spokeswoman for the American Health Care Association. (That represents a compromise between the House and Senate versions, she said.) A bonus also will be paid to states that have high unemployment rates.

—Another piece of good news is that the bill delays moratoria for six harmful Medicaid rules that would limit funding to nursing homes. The delay buys Congress and the administration until the end of June to figure out a more permanent solution.
—Finally, the legislation contains a provision requiring prompt Medicaid payments to nursing homes and hospitals. Clean claims now have to be paid in 90 days. That alone is reason for providers to cheer.

Unfortunately, one battle nursing homes didn’t win was an amendment to the bill, introduced by Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA), which would have prohibited states from reducing spending to providers even as they received Medicaid funds.

“Yes we would have preferred there was that Grassley amendment in there, but we understand Congress’ recognition not to tie the hands of the governors,” Feeney said.

All in all, there is more to praise than to criticize in the bill. So don’t be bashful about sharing your thoughts through letters to senators and representatives. And say “thank you.” It took a lot of work to reach this point.

Work Of PA Center For Health Careers Eases Pennsylvania's Nursing Shortage

2009-03-03T05:11:00.000-08:00

The shortage of registered nurses in Pennsylvania is shrinking, in part, because of the efforts of the Pennsylvania Center for Health Careers, Department of Labor & Industry acting Secretary Sandi Vito announced.

The information is included in updates to the 2005 reports "The Registered Nurse Workforce in Pennsylvania" and "The Licensed Practical Nurse Workforce in Pennsylvania," released today and available online at

http://www.paworkforce.state.pa.us.

"I am pleased to see that our investments and efforts to address the need for nurses in Pennsylvania have reduced the shortage originally estimated in 2005," Vito said. "By helping academic institutions hire faculty and add classes, the Pennsylvania Center for Health Careers is helping to increase the number of skilled, qualified nurses in Pennsylvania."

According to the latest forecasts, the shortage of registered nurses, or RNs, projected for 2010 is between 8,000 and 14,400 of an estimated statewide demand for 146,000 RNs -- between 400 and 1,700 fewer than the shortage reported in the original 2005 report.

"The report's estimates also show the need for Licensed Practical Nurses, or LPNs, will nearly double -- due to Pennsylvania's aging population -- leading to an estimated shortage of between 7,100 and 8,400 in 2010.

"Our efforts have been positive and successful; however, the aging of residents makes it very clear that there is more work to be done," Vito said. "Having determined the commonwealth's nursing needs through 2010 and beyond, we must have the proper resources to continue our investments in programs that will close education and employment gaps, and ensure every Pennsylvanian has access to the high-quality care they need and deserve."

The forecasting model used to provide the updated information is a cooperative effort by the Center for Workforce Information & Analysis and the Pennsylvania Center for Health Careers. Data was collected by the Department of Labor & Industry on employment and occupational trends; the Department of Health's State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP) Survey on registered nurses and licensed practical nurse characteristics; the Board of Nursing on graduation rates, licensure examination pass rates and the career plans of nurses; as well as data collected from six regional round table discussions with health care industry professionals from around the state.

Additional information about the Pennsylvania Center for Health Careers, as well as reports and data about Pennsylvania's need for registered and licensed practical nurses, is available online at http://www.paworkforce.state.pa.us.

Online Nursing Degree Programs in LPN to RN Transition Programs

2009-03-02T07:09:00.000-08:00

Any LPN who feels they have established a good base of knowledge and nursing experience may wish to take the next step and become a Registered Nurse (RN). The difference between a LPN and a RN may seem small at first glance, but differ greatly in the education required to achieve each certification, and the opportunities afforded to each down the road are what really makes the difference. Many more options become available to a RN as they gain more experience, ones that will not be offered to a LPN regardless of experience or base knowledge. Without and RN certification, it is increasingly difficult for a LPN-certified nurse to continue to receive promotions or to further their career, especially financially. While the the money may be okay in the beginning of their career, an LPN will want to continue some education program so they can continue to grow in the future.

A LPN to RN transition program is designed for qualified Licensed Practical Nurses who wish to become Registered Nurses with a minimum amount of time and with a little repeat of course content and credits. Graduates of the program are eligible to become RN's after they pass the mandatory exam for all aspiring RNs. The National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), is a standardized test for all RNs. The exam tests current medical knowledge, nursing competencies, and determines your eligibility to earn a RN license and begin your career as a Registered Nurse. To get the ball rolling and begin your work as a RN make sure you have satisfied all the requirements for the Transition Program.

First you obviously need to be a graduate from a State Board approved nursing program with a GPA of 2.5. You will also need to submit an official transcript of required courses and an interview with on of the program's faculty. Finally you will need to complete the Nursing and Allied Health application and submit it to the Division of Nursing and Allied Health, before the application deadline date for that semester's program. While it may seem daunting to a recently certified LPN, it is highly recommended that they continue on with learning and gaining new certification, and shooting for a RN status will open may doors for them in the future.

Visit the College Network to get more information on LPN to RN online degree programs.

Article from RNCentral.com

Nursing Education in the United States

2009-03-01T07:16:00.000-08:00

Nursing education is a field that combines nursing with the teaching of students of nursing and, for some, with the administration of educational programs.

A high proportion of the teachers in nursing education programs teach in clinical situations, in which students learn to care for patients and families in hospitals, at home, and in other situations. Universities or associations usually offer teaching by nurses in staff-development programs of hospitals and other health agencies and in continuing-education programs. The basic educational program for nurses in many countries is scientific and humanistic in content. All educational programs include experience with patients in hospitals, homes, or other settings.

In almost all countries with nursing education there are at least two kinds of programs – those leading to diplomas and those that train auxiliaries, though a large portion of auxiliaries in some countries are untrained.

The development of nursing education in any country is affected by the developments in general education. In the United States and some other countries, for example, high school graduation or its equivalent has for many years been a requirement for admission to schools preparing registered nurses. In the United States this is also a requirement for admission to practical nurse programs. In some countries fewer years of previous education are required.

Nursing education in the United States has undergone tremendous changes in recent years. In order to prepare nurses for beginning and advanced levels of practice, educational programs also have undergone tremendous changes. Many curricula are creative and interactive, rather than rigid and proscriptive. Education is more learner-focused than teacher-centered. Clinical experiences for students reflect a greater emphasis on community-based care, health promotion, disease prevention, family involvement, and self-care. And the integration of technology and the use of distance learning strategies are more evident in nursing education programs.

Nurse educators are realizing that there is an art and a science to teaching nursing – just as there is an art and a science to practicing nursing – and they are seeking preparation in curriculum development and evaluation, creative teaching/learning strategies, student and program evaluation, and other areas that complement their clinical specialization and expertise.

Post-basic programs for nurses with diplomas have been established in the United States and in many countries. Some programs offer courses in general education, as well as nursing courses, and some, in universities, may become programs leading to a bachelor’s degree. The purposes of such programs vary and include the preparation of teachers, supervisors, or administrators and of nurse specialists in various fields, including midwifery, public health, and teaching of auxiliaries. Some augment the education received in other programs. Enrollment is generally small in relation to the need for their graduates.

Current and Projected Shortage Indicators

2009-02-26T16:08:00.000-08:00

The shortage of registered nurses (RNs) in the U.S. could reach as high as 500,000 by 2025 according to a report released by Dr. Peter Buerhaus and colleagues in March 2008. The report, titled The Future of the Nursing Workforce in the United States: Data, Trends and Implications, found that the demand for RNs is expected to grow by 2% to 3% each year.

In a statement released in March 2008, The Council on Physician and Nurse Supply, an independent group of health care leaders based at the University of Pennsylvania, has determined that 30,000 additional nurses should be graduated annually to meet the nation's healthcare needs, an expansion of 30% over the current number of annual nurse graduates.

According to the latest projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics published in the November 2007 Monthly Labor Review, more than one million new and replacement nurses will be needed by 2016. Government analysts project that more than 587,000 new nursing positions will be created through 2016 (a 23.5% increase), making nursing the nation’s top profession in terms of projected job growth. www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2007/11/art5full.pdf

According to a report released by the American Hospital Association in July 2007, U.S. hospitals need approximately 116,000 RNs to fill vacant positions nationwide. This translates into a national RN vacancy rate of 8.1%. The report, titled The 2007 State of America's Hospitals - Taking the Pulse, also found that 44% of hospital CEOs had more difficulty recruiting RNs in 2006 than in 2005.

Based on finding from the Nursing Management Aging Workforce Survey released in July 2006 by the Bernard Hodes Group, 55% of surveyed nurses reported their intention to retire between 2011 and 2020. The majority of those surveyed were nurse managers.

In April 2006, officials with the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) released projections that the nation's nursing shortage would grow to more than one million nurses by the year 2020. In the report titled What is Behind HRSA's Projected Supply, Demand, and Shortage of Registered Nurses?, analysts show that all 50 states will experience a shortage of nurses to varying degrees by the year 2015.

According to a report published in November 2004 as a Web exclusive of Health Affairs, Dr. Peter Buerhaus and colleagues found that "despite the increase in employment of nearly 185,000 hospital RNs since 2001, there is no empirical evidence that the nursing shortage has ended. To the contrary, national surveys of RNs and physicians conducted in 2004 found that a clear majority of RNs (82%) and doctors (81%) perceived shortages where they worked."

Nursing: Choosing A Specialty

2009-02-25T04:41:00.000-08:00

By: Cynthia Andrews

The nursing profession is a wide open field with many career paths. In today's increasingly specialized world, it is becoming more common for nurses to specialize within their field. The decision to specialize in the nursing field is not one to take lightly. There are advantages and disadvantages, but for an increasing number of nurses it is becoming necessary.

Because of the relatively new practice of choosing a specialty field, each field has different requirements for specialization. There are also some that have no requirements at all. Certainly, a nurse who has worked for thirty years in the obstetrics department should consider that their specialty, but that is not the case when compared to a nurse choosing their specialty field after graduating from nursing school.

Not all nursing fields have formal specialization programs. Some, such as pediatrics, have a national certification program. Even in fields that do not have a national certification process, many hospitals have guidelines for working in a specialized field. Many hospitals recommend that a recent nursing school graduate should work for at least one year on a general medicine floor before moving into any specialty. Nursing schools provide students with intensive training, and the year spent working in the hospital setting should provide invaluable experience in helping the young nurse refine skills and gain confidence.

Once you feel competent in general nursing, you may want to consider choosing a specialty field. Specializing often makes it easier to find a job in your chosen field, and it is possible to draw a higher salary by having skills that are in demand. Once you work in a specialized field, it may become difficult to gain employment outside this field, because employers may be concerned that your skills in some areas may not be up to date. For this reason, it is important to think carefully about what type of specialty you may want to work in before you commit.

Know what is required

Be sure to consider all sides of a specialty before deciding if it is the one for you. While many nurses think they want to work with babies, in reality, the NICU, while full of babies, is a stressful place to work, especially for a young nurse, who may have young children at home, or be thinking of starting a family.

Other nurses may want to work with the elderly, and while this can certainly be rewarding, it often requires a great deal of physical strength to help elderly patients with day-to-day tasks, so it is important to take that into consideration before making a decision.

Work in Different Areas

The best way to learn what is required in each nursing specialty is to work in different areas. Even if you do not work in the area that you are considering specializing in, you can still gain insight into the differences between the available nursing fields. Many hospitals hire “float” nurses that rotate through a variety of positions, filling in on different floors as needed. This is an excellent way to gain a variety of experience.

Network

Before choosing a specialty, take the time to talk with people who work in the specialty that you are considering. The more people you talk to, the better understanding you can gain for the type of work that is required and how rewarding the career path is. Talk with people who are happy in their job as well as those who are not. Remember that what makes one person happy is not the same for another person. While you may relish working independently, someone else may feel isolated. The more nurses you talk with, the better understanding you can gain for the different nursing specialties.

What does the future look like?

Before committing the time and money to specialized training, you should consider the job outlook for your particular career. If the specialty requires intensive classes that you must take on your off duty hours and pay for on your own, and the outlook is stagnate, it may not be the best choice for you. If you can specialize in a career by taking in-service classes while continuing education, which you would be required to take anyway, or the job growth is the specialty is growing, it is probably a good field to choose.

Don't sweat it

Regardless of the choice that you make, it is reversible. Once you have your nursing degree, you are highly employable, regardless of the field of nursing in which you have experience. If you choose one area of nursing, and find that it is not a good fit, it is easy enough to move into another branch of nursing. You can make the switch easier by keeping your skills up to date and working an occasional shift on a floor outside your specialty.

Becoming a Nurse Educator is a Wonderful Career Choice

2009-02-24T06:24:00.000-08:00

Registered nurses are teachers already! RNs teach patients and their families how to manage their illness or injury, including post-treatment home care needs, diet and exercise programs, and self-administration of medication and physical therapy. RNs mentor and precept new graduates and new hire staff as well as develop and implement ongoing continuing education activities within clinical settings. RNs combine their clinical expertise and passion for teaching others in thousands of ways every time they work. Nurse Educators make use of that same clinical expertise and passion for teaching to guide and shape the future of the nursing profession- one student at a time!

Do you want to be doing direct patient care when you're 63 and still waiting to be old enough to retire? I say leave bedside nursing to the younger nurses, give your sore back a rest, and turn your talents towards building the next generation of nurses instead!

Some RNs choose to advance their nursing career by moving into administrative or management positions, but the responsibilities and stress of management isn't for everyone. For those RNs who would enjoy keeping in touch with direct patient care and in shaping the future of nursing the best career path to think about is becoming a nurse educator!

Given the growing shortage of nurse educators, the career outlook is strong for nurses interested in teaching careers. Nursing schools nationwide are struggling to find new faculty to accommodate the rising interest in nursing among new students.

Teaching Nursing Offers Outstanding Career Flexibility

Most nurse educators work in colleges and universities that offer associate and baccalaureate programs in nursing, and some work as instructors for LPN courses while educators involved in clinical education also work at collaborating health care facilities.

A Master's degree in nursing is typically required to become a faculty member at a university but RNs with a Bachelors degree in nursing and clinical experience are the minimum basic requirements for clinical instructors.Nurse educators can work as full time faculty with all the benefits including tenure and retirement, or may choose to work as part time faculty while still continuing clinical employment and direct patient care. Nurse educators play a vital role in preparing and shaping future generations of nurses!

Earn a Master's in Nursing Education While You Work

You can earn an accredited Master's Degree in Nursing with a specialization in education or in health education online while maintaining your current job by investing just a few hours of study time per week through several schools.

Don't have a BSN Degree?

There's a fully accredited RN to MS in Nursing bridge program that allows busy nurses to take the fast track to earning their Masters in Nursing. Students earn both degrees in a fraction of the time at 1/2 the cost of traditional programs and don't have to give up their job to do it.

Make a difference today that will impact the entire profession for years to come. Become a Nurse Educator!

National Nurses Week (NNW) 2009 Celebrates Nurses' Building A Healthy America

2009-02-23T07:28:00.000-08:00

Article Copied From MedicalNewsToday.com

The American Nurses Association (ANA) has announced the theme of National Nurses Week 2009, "Nurses: Building a Healthy America." National Nurses Week is celebrated annually from May 6, also known as National Nurses Day, through May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing.

"This year's theme reflects the commitment nurses make every day in building a healthy America for the public we serve," said ANA President Rebecca M. Patton, MSN, RN, CNOR. "ANA has long advocated for meaningful health system reform and in 2008 re-released ANA's Health System Reform Agenda, (http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/HealthcareandPolicyIssues/HSR.aspx) an ANA blueprint for reform that focuses on the basic "core" of essential health care services, which is essential in building a healthy America for everyone."

During National Nurses Week, ANA reaffirms its commitment to improve the quality of health care and the working conditions of nurses. The growing shortage of RNs poses a real threat to the nation's health care system and the public's health, and ANA is dedicated to fighting for a workplace environment that will encourage current nurses to continue in their careers, and inspire young men and women to consider nursing as a profession.

Annually, National Nurses Week focuses on highlighting the diverse ways in which registered nurses are working to improve health care. From bedside nursing in hospitals and long-term care facilities to the halls of research institutions, state legislatures, and Congress, the depth and breadth of the nursing profession is meeting the expanding health care needs of American society.

For more information on National Nurses Week, please visit here.

The ANA is the only full-service professional organization representing the interests of the nation's 2.9 million registered nurses through its 51 constituent member nurses associations, its 23 organizational affiliates, and its workforce advocacy affiliate, the Center for American Nurses. The ANA advances the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the rights of nurses in the workplace, projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and by lobbying the Congress and regulatory agencies on health care issues affecting nurses and the public.

Paying Homage to our Mentor

2009-02-20T05:16:00.000-08:00

Florence Nightingale was a revolutionary and well ahead of her time. We know of her numerous and purely astounding accomplishments with nursing through advocacy, reform, and the transformation of nursing into a legitimate profession. But do we truly grasp the depth of her accomplishments?

Born into an affluent family, Florence Nightingale ignored the societal norms of the time, which separated social class and disparaged nursing, and got down in the trenches to treat the poor and impoverished. In the process she addressed equality for the indigent and for women.

Claiming to have heard the voice of God on several occasions, Florence Nightingale’s calling must have been a powerful one. Father Henri J. M. Nouwen in his book, “Bread for the Journey” wrote a daily meditation entitled, “Downward Mobility.” He wrote the following:

“The society in which we live suggests in countless ways that the way to go is up. Making it to the top, entering the limelight, breaking the record – that’s what draws attention, gets us on the front page of the newspaper, and offers us the rewards of money and fame.

The way of Jesus is radically different. It is the way not of upward mobility but of downward mobility. It is going to the bottom, staying behind the sets, and choosing the last place! Why is the way of Jesus worth choosing? Because it is the way to the Kingdom, the way Jesus took, and the way that brings everlasting life.”

This certainly describes the path in life Florence Nightingale chose and the conviction to her divine calling. Florence Nightingale rejected her life of privilege and had the courage to oppose her parents’ wishes, despite their attempts to steer her away from nursing, to do what she believed she was called to do. Florence Nightingale looked for her downward mobility to transform nursing and address the injustices of society. It was action that she took or as the saying goes, “She walked the walk.”

Her true accomplishments: Not as much transforming nursing into a legitimate profession, as much as making it a vocation; not as much treating the ill for their physical needs, but the healing of their whole being; not as much her advocacy and reform for the time, but setting a precedence for all time; and maybe most of all, treating people as equal and as children of God. All because she answered her calling and of her “Downward Mobility.”

There are only a few people in the history of mankind that truly denied their very selves to embark on a journey that was ominous, perilous and denigrated to accomplish so much for the destitute, never to be repaid by worldly riches… or paid at all. Thank God nursing got one of them.

What Does Stimulus Package Mean for Nurses

2009-02-18T06:37:00.000-08:00

The following information was gathered from Nurselink.com. The full article can be found at:
http://www.nursinglink.com/news/articles/7548-what-does-the-stimulus-package-mean-for-nurses?page=4

Wheres does all the money go? The following is portions of the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act dealing directly with nurses. Go here to read the full bill.

• $600,000,000, of which $300,000,000 shall not be available until October 1, 2009, shall be for the training of nurses and primary care physicians and dentists.

• $1,000,000,000 shall be available for renovation and repair of health centers…the timeframe for the award of grants pursuant to section 1103(b) of this Act shall not be later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act instead of the timeframe specified in such section.

• $420,000,000 for an additional amount for ‘Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund’ to prepare for and respond to an influenza pandemic, including the development and purchase of vaccine, antivirals, necessary medical supplies, diagnostics, and other surveillance tools.

• Not less than $954,000,000 shall be used as an additional amount to carry out the immunization program

• Not less than $545,000,000 shall be used as an additional amount to carry out chronic disease, health promotion, and genomics programs, as jointly determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (‘Secretary’) and the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (‘Director’).

• Not less than $335,000,000 shall be used as an additional amount to carry out domestic HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis, sexually-transmitted diseases, and tuberculosis prevention programs.

• Not less than $60,000,000 shall be used as an additional amount to carry out environmental health programs.

• Not less than $50,000,000 shall be used as an additional amount to carry out injury prevention and control programs.

• Not less than $30,000,000 shall be used as an additional amount for public health workforce development activities

• In General- The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall invest in the infrastructure necessary to allow for and promote the electronic exchange and use of health information for each individual in the United States consistent with the goals outlined in the Strategic Plan developed by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology.

• $950,000,000 for non-recurring maintenance, including energy projects at VA Hospitals

Skin Care Nursing Home Medical Products

2009-02-17T06:18:00.000-08:00

Isn’t it good health the number one priority in our homes? It is, isn’t it? Promoting good health does not only mean, keeping your home as germ-free as possible, but it also takes keeping skin care nursing home medical products in your medicine cabinet. The many skin care nursing home medical products target both adults and little kids alike.

Dry skin that eventually leads to irritation and rashes are among the main concerns of every manufacturer of skin care nursing home medical products. But, how do they really work? Babies and elderly are the ones who are prone to dry skin, making them the perfect target for these products. But, in order for you to appreciate how effective skin care nursing home medical products, it is better if you understand first the reasons of manufacturing such products in the first place.

We know that dry skin is an irritation caused by a lack of moisture in our skin and it is very common, which means anybody can have dry skin at any period of time. And because babies need the best care possible at all times, we’ll first deal with them.

Skin irritation or rashes in infants and toddlers are not very surprising to know as they can develop every now and then. Due to the sensitivity of baby’s skin, if it made contact with irritating urine and feces for a little more than a few minutes, then expect extreme redness from your baby’s behind. What happen really is that when bacteria found in stool mix with chemicals found in urine, ammonia is formed, which is a known an irritant to your baby’s skin. Also, you should know that using moist towelettes in wiping your babies behind can worsen more than it can help.

Now, for dry skin in adults particularly the elderly people, they tend to develop dry skin most often in the winter months, when cold air in the outdoors and dry and heated air inside the house can cause a decrease a decrease in humidity. These instances can result to skin’s moisture loss, which in many cases may cause it to get dry, crack and peel, becomes irritated and worse, get infected.

In response to these problems, skin care nursing home medical products are introduced to the public. The good thing about most of these products is that they contain mineral oil and water, which are essential to keep the moisture level of your skin normal. One of the skin care nursing home medical products known in the market is Formula II. Its special combination of three waxes, such as beeswax, cerasin, and paraffin, are what makes this product line stand out from the others. What it does is lock in the moisture of your skin or your baby’s skin to prevent it from drying all the time.

There, you are know familiar the efficiency of skin care nursing home medical products, so make sure that you have one in your medicine cabinet just in case you are going to, I’m sure you will, need

Nurses Shielded From Volatile Job Market

2009-02-15T08:51:00.000-08:00

In a recent article for Nurse.com written by Catherine Spader, RN, nurses are still the bulls in an otherwise bear market.

Read complete article: http://include.nurse.com/article/20090209/NATIONAL02/102090107/

While some nurses and those in the healthcare field may disagree, the overwhelming majority would agree that nursing is still a fairly recession proof job. And there are those that would say that despite what changes occur in the market, whether the job market drops even further before recovering, the nursing profession will not only continue to look for nurses, but will even be in a more desperate situation in a few years.

Thankfully organizations like The Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation provides grants and scholarships for those who would like to continue their education to become a nurse. More information on the PHEF can be found at:

www.futuresinnursing.org.

Requirements to work as a Travel Nurse

2009-02-11T05:01:00.000-08:00

By Hina Kamadia

Typically, to work as a travel nurse, you need at least one year of work experience as a nurse in an acute care hospital setting. However, the more experience you have in a variety of areas, the more options you have in choosing the hospital and the city you may want to live in.

For example, if you like pediatrics, and you would like to do an assignment in Jacksonville, FL, it is possible that there may not be a position open in Jacksonville for Pediatrics. However, if you have some experience in pediatrics intensive care unit or neo-natal intensive care unit or even nursery, there is a higher chance that you will be able to find a job in those areas. If you have worked in only one area, you can still surely find a job, but it may not be the area you prefer. However, the more experience you have and the more familiar you are with other units, the easier is it to get the job most suitable for you because you will have more job opportunities to choose from.

In addition, often times, hospitals require travel nurses to float to other units when in need. Although they will provide the orientation to those units, it makes it easier for you to adjust when you have experience in more than one area. The more accommodating you are and the more comfortable you are in various areas, the more in demand you are by the hospital as well. Often times, after the first assignment, the hospital may even offer you another 13 week assignment, if you choose to stay.

Apart from the basic requirements to be a travel nurse, it is also important that you have the ability to adjust in a different environment and enjoy change. It is important that you are flexible, friendly and enjoy making new friends and trying new things. If you do not like constant change from city to city, you can also do local traveling where you stay in the same city but go to different hospitals for assignments.

In addition to having a positive attitude and the openness to change, there are few other things you will need to make sure your travel experience is all you want it to be.

1. Apply for the state license as soon you know where you want to go. That should be your first priority.

2. Pack lightly- take only what you need.

3. Be organized with all your documents: license, certifications, health records, and vaccinations, contracts with agencies, travel expenses and receipts you may need for travel reimbursements.

4. Have all the driving directions: to the apartment, to the hospital, etc.

5. Knowing what you want, where you want to go and how to negotiate with your recruiter and your hospital.

6. You will need a way for someone to take care of your stuff back home.

7. If you are planning on doing a few assignments, it might be a good idea to have mail forwarding service. This way you can have a permanent address and they will forward your mail wherever you go and you will not have to change your address every time you move.

Nurses: Take Time for Health and Fitness

2009-02-10T06:21:00.000-08:00

As a nurse, you are continually concerned with the welfare of others. The demands on your time for work (your patients), family, education can stretch you in so many directions that it is very easy to neglect the one person that you need to take care of first in order to take care of others – you.

Health and fitness are central to the medical field. As a nurse who treats people on the mend, you emphasize the patient’s need to follow doctor’s orders: Take their medicine, eat right, and get an adequate amount of sleep and exercise. You explain the importance of a good diet and to avoid toxic food and beverages, getting ample sleep and work in a daily exercise regimen. But do we practice what we preach? It seems impossible. What can we do now that will at least get us headed in the right direction?

A proper diet is the first place to start and it does not take any time out of our day to be sure that we are eating healthy. The best motivator may be to calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI) in order to measure your body fat relative to your height and weight. http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/ Once you have assessed where you are and where you need to be, the next step would be to create a suitable diet. Build the proper diet using the food pyramid. MyPyramid.gov will create the diet that is right for you. http://www.mypyramid.gov/index.html

Next – sleep! This may be more challenging than coming up with the right diet, but sleep deprivation certainly hinders your mental health and is just as important to correct as your nutritional regime. What bad habits keep you from getting to bed when you should? Having something to eat or drink that you can forgo, knowing it will keep you up? Staying up to watch just a little more TV? Engaging in frivolous internet activity? You can start here by simply…going to bed.

Finally, the real challenge – exercise! How do we take time to work out? A much tougher question to answer by mere suggestion. Here is where we really need to find time in our day and then, what exactly do we do? There is truly only one way to implement exercise into your day and that is by dedicating the time needed. If it takes away family time, include family in your workout routine; everyone can go for a walk, go swimming, bike riding and lift weights. You may even find this to be quality family time and open up lines of communication to discuss family issues. The time in front of the TV can be the time we use for exercise. We can argue this time is used to “take our mind off things.” This will still be accomplished during your workout and will achieve the healthier objective of rejuvenating your brain. If you can not pull yourself away from the TV, then how about some calisthenics while watching?

Finalize your health and fitness regimen and keep to your established routine. You do not have to do everything at once but it is imperative to get started. As you get started, implement reminders that there is change in your life. Move your alarm clock to where you need to get “out of bed” to shut it off. This will get you out of bed in the morning (as opposed to giving your workout, to your snooze alarm) as well as being a “reminder.” Write a short shopping list of the nutritional foods you need to buy for your new diet – right now, right a couple of things down! Put that list in your car where you will see it as a reminder that you need to stop at the market on the way home.

In conclusion, living a healthier lifestyle will increase your energy level, sharpen your mental acuity and allow you to do exponentially more.

In conclusion, living a healthier lifestyle will increase your energy level, sharpen your mental acuity and allow you to do exponentially more.

Mandatory Overtime Ban in PA for Nurses starts July 1, 2009

2009-02-08T17:46:00.001-08:00

Read the following article pertaining to the ban on mandatory overtime for nurses and health care personnel below:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/125531.php

I really do feel it's time that our government to step up and assist hospitals with their shortage, especially in the face of this new law. With no fear of retribution by the powers that be, those nurses who have finished their shift can reject overtime with no fear of retribution. And this could sound the alarm even louder that we need to address the nursing shortage NOW.

The problem is more complicated than providing students with a means to become a nurse. The main problem is that schools of nursing are pushing away students as their programs are understaffed and unable to teach the amount of students signing on to become nurses. Given that nurses make more than nurse educators, it's not going to be anytime soon that we see nurses exchanging their scrubs for text books. So the wheels grind ever slower toward the goal of a more healthy nursing industry.

I believe that the government must work in conjunction with hospitals to come up with a compensation package which makes up the loss in pay for any nurse who chooses to become a nurse educator. But it can't stop there. They also need to provide some sort of loan forgiveness program for those nurses so they do not merely make the same amount of money but realize a reduction in their personal debt to income ratio due to their student loans so they can get their Masters or PHD.

Currently now the only organization in Pennsylvania that provides a grant or scholarship for current nurses to become nurse educators is the Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation. More information on this organization can be found at http://www.higheredfoundation.org/.

PHEF Reaches Out to Inner City High Schools about Nursing

2009-02-06T07:13:00.000-08:00

The Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation, a foundation to help improve the nursing crisis in Pennsylvania, has embarked on a school tour in Philadelphia to provide information on attaining scholarships and grants to become a nurse.

In conjunction with Independence Blue Cross and Radio One, this school tour is conducted by performing assemblies at various schools and educating students on all the nursing profession has to offer and how they can go about getting money to go to college to become a nurse. So far, PHEF has conducted 9 school tours since September and have another 6 tours scheduled through May.

Radio One radio personality Sixx King, along with Teisha Sor (Radio One marketing) and Chris Napoli (representing PHEF), are providing High School Juniors and Seniors the road map to nursing. "I think it's very important, especially in today's economic climate, to show high school students that there is a path to success", Napoli states. "And the participation and feedback we are getting from the students really does lift the spirit".

If you are a high school in the Philadelphia region and would like the PHEF/Radio One school tour for nursing, contact Chris Napoli @ chris@napolimediainc.com.

8 Steps to Becoming LPN in Pennsylvania

2009-02-04T06:50:00.000-08:00

Step1
Enroll in an accredited LPN training program and graduate. If you complete your training in the state of Pennsylvania, you will save money on your licensing application fee. You also save time since you do not have to submit an officially sealed transcript from the educational institution from which you graduated.

Step2
Contact the State Board of Nursing, Examination Division by calling 717-772-1746. Request the paperwork to apply for licensure as a Pennsylvania practical nurse.

Step3
Pay the LPN licensing application fee by sending it to the State Board of Nursing, Examination Division at Post Office Box 8411 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 17105. If you have graduated from an accredited LPN program within the state of Pennsylvania, the fee is $35. If your education took place out of state but within the United States, the fee is $100.

Step4
Log on to the Internet and visit the NCLEX exam website. It governs the national licensure of practical nurses. Request a schedule for the next opportunity to sit for the NCLEX-PN exam. If you do not have a computer with Internet access, you may call the National Council of State Boards of Nursing by dialing 866-496-2539. The fee for this exam is $200, payable by credit card or certified funds.

Step5
Submit to a background check. Pennsylvania law prohibits you from becoming a licensed practical nurse if you have been convicted of a drug related felony within the last 10 years.

Step6
Wait to receive your permission to participate in the LPN testing. You will receive a form entitled Authorization to Test (ATT) from the agency that actually administers the assessment and is dependent on your passing the background check and being deemed eligible—by virtue of your schooling—to participate in the NCLEX-PN testing.

Step7
Take the exam, pass it and receive your official LPN certificate in the mail within about 30 days. The certificate will contain your registration number that you must put in a safe place; this number is required every time you renew you Pennsylvania LPN registration. If you believe that your notification is slow in coming, you can also check the website of the Pennsylvania State Department to see if a license has been issued in your name (see Resources).

Step8
Repeat the exam--if you failed the first time around--but remember that you must wait 91 days before you can once again be tested. Do not panic; you can retake the exam as often as you need until you pass.

Independence Blue Cross Nurse Scholars Program

2009-02-02T05:11:00.000-08:00

Purpose

Independence Blue Cross (IBC) and the Foundation recognize that the shortage of nurses is not limited to direct patient care professionals. The need to increase the number of graduate students who will be qualified to become nurse educators, in order to train the next generation of nurses, is also an important piece of the puzzle in reversing the nursing shortage.

Overview

The IBC Nurse Scholars Program provides financial assistance to graduate nursing students who are pursuing an education that will qualify them to become a nurse educator. The program will underwrite scholarship funding for schools to qualified students attending an accredited graduate nursing program in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties

The Nurse Scholars Program will give nursing students the opportunity to receive grants and scholarships toward their graduate degree directly from the qualified nursing schools they attend. For complete eligibility requirements, contact your school’s nursing department. If you have additional questions, call the Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation at 800-377-4502.

Top Reasons to Become Nurse Educator

2009-01-30T09:54:00.001-08:00

Besides the obvious need for nurse educators in PA and the job security that comes with this profession, here are the Top 10 Reasons to Become a Nurse Educator according to the National League of Nurses:

10.You work in an intellectually stimulating environment.

9. You have autonomy and flexibility.

8.Your research creates knowledge and advances the field; your publications bring you prestige.

7. Your work has value to society.

6. You can teach anywhere in the world.

5. You can teach from the beach or the slopes, using technology.

4. You encourage and educate eager minds, and rejoice when your students surpass you.

3. You shape the future of healthcare.

2. You change lives.And the number 1 reason to become a nurse educator...

1. You teach what you love.

What is Holding You Back?

2009-01-29T17:58:00.000-08:00

Are you happy with your present job, employer, and income? Are you living the lifestyle you desire? Do you feel the self-satisfaction and gratification you are looking for, maybe not at the end of each and everyday, but at the end of the week or even the month? How about self-esteem? If you answered yes, congratulations. For those that can not answer yes to these questions, where are you headed? Have you thought about what you want to do and where you want to go? What are your goals? Do you have a plan? Most important, what is your next step?! Undoubtedly, there are some obstacles.

Procrastination and Complacency

There are two very formidable opponents that face us on a human level: Procrastination and complacency. While there are similarities between the two words, they are two different conditions. The common theme of these two conditions is a lack of results.

Complacency is usually the result of accomplishment or achieving a certain level of success. Complacency is defined with “an unawareness of actual dangers.” Complacency creeps up on us unexpectedly, and most times we do not realize that we suffer from this condition until we are faced with the actual danger. The danger we could very easily face is allowing a lapse in our education, such as the mandatory continuing education required for re-licensure as talked about in a previous article dated October 31st on this site by Margaret Lyons, program coordinator at Villanova University.

Perpetual goal setting is one of the best practices we can employ to prevent complacency from setting in. Using a benchmark set by others can further insure that we will never have a goal in which we are satisfied. Tell yourself there is always someone doing it better, and find that someone.

We also need to create our own mechanism that will prevent complacency. It can be something simplistic such as an office bulleting board (hand-written to do list with due dates), or something more sophisticated employing technology (timed reminders on your computer). Keep your goals in front of you - carefully measured in achievable steps - so that you face them everyday. Choose the mechanism that will best work for you; just be sure to implement something. While at this juncture (nurses in Pennsylvania, California, Kansas and Delaware), have you addressed the mandatory continuing education for re-licensure?

Procrastination can be a byproduct of complacency however it has many sources. Unlike complacency, procrastination does not necessarily (and most times probably does not) result from success. It is a factor that prevents accomplishment.

Procrastination is a more conscious opponent usually a result of fear or poor prioritization. Concerning fear, it is never personal; identify and face your fear in order to alleviate anxiety. Our prioritization sometimes needs to be scrutinized. Life in nursing gives us a work load with more than our fair share. We begin to juggle instead of prioritize, and I am not referring to patient care here. When prioritizing, be sure your personal and professional advancement weighs in.

Time and Money

Now for the proverbial obstacles: Time and money. As you address procrastination and analyze your prioritization, commit the time needed for continuing education. Visualize where you will be and of the advanced opportunities afforded you once you have gained the desired (and necessary) degree. Do not let the economy be your excuse. Our profession is experiencing a shortage with a projected increase for the next 12 years. Nonetheless, by the time the economy improves, you could have positioned yourself for the place you want to be, rather than it being too late.

If you still have unfulfilled dreams and aspirations, take the first step to get started.

The Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation is the first place to look. See if you qualify for the financial assistance they offer. Simply click on their link at right. And do not stop there. Schools of nursing often have assistance for those in need as well. As an example, visit Villanova’s College of Nursing, link at left, to see what they have to offer and peruse their site to learn more about their programs to see if their program may be right for you.

As this site continues to build its resources, please visit frequently for opportunities in education, advancement and employment.

As always, thank you for visiting and please share your comments.

Nursing: The Next 10 Years

2009-01-28T05:44:00.000-08:00

By Craig Elliot

General Outlook for Nurses

The outlook for individuals considering entering the nursing field is excellent. Registered nurses, or RN's, make up the largest number of health care workers in the country. In addition, registered nurses will make up one of the fasted growing population of workers in all occupations over the next ten years.

Many registered nurses begin their career in the hospital setting. This allows the nurse to become familiar with various branches of medicine. While there is a demand for hospital nurses, this area of nursing will remain relatively level over the next ten years.

Many healthcare experts predict a surge in demand for registered nurses in the home health care setting. As Americans live longer, have more disposable income, and desire to remain home, nurses that can oversee care and treatment in the home setting will become increasingly valuable.

Another area of nursing that will see a surge in growth is with nurses who continue their education with Master's level work. With the rising cost of healthcare many families are using nurse practitioners and nurse midwives as a replacement for their primary care physician.

Hospitals, also, are realizing the cost saving benefit of highly trained nurses, and many employ nurse anesthetists, clinical nursing specialists, and nurse practitioners to keep their costs under control.

Not a Registered Nurse?

Job prospects for licensed practical nurses, or LPNs, while positive, are not as strong as those of registered nurses. Licensed practical nurses will continue to be in demand, particular in hospital and long term care facilities.

Many licensed practical nurses continue their schooling to become RNs while employed. The responsibilities of an RN are greater, but they also include more opportunities. RNs typically supervise LPN in a clinical setting, and the greater skill level allows the RN more job options.

RN or BSN?

The schooling necessary to become a registered nurse can be completed in anywhere from two to four years. The coursework is very intensive and involves many clinical hours. A program completed in less that four years, however, will leave you with an RN, not a BSN, or Bachelor of Science in Nursing. An RN is fully qualified to do all the duties required of a registered nurse, depending on the state. Obviously, the addition of a bachelor degree has many benefits.

An RN with a bachelor's degree in nursing is at an advantage when administrative positions open up in a hospital or clinical setting. In fact, due to the degree of federal and state oversight on healthcare facilities, many require a BSN for administrative, case management, and supervisory positions.

If you are considering working on your Master's degree, either as a nurse anesthetist, nurse practitioner, or to teach, you are required to have a bachelor's degree. While not all programs will mandate that your bachelor's must be in nursing, it is certainly helpful.

Considering a Career Switch?

Nursing is an excellent opportunity for individuals looking to move into a different career. With the high demand for nurses, many potential employees, particularly hospitals, will pay for most or all of your schooling. Even if you must foot the bills for your education initially, signing bonuses, combined with the near guarantee of a job upon graduation, takes much of the risk out of a career switch.

Another attractive fact concerning the nursing profession is the attractive tuition reimbursement plans offered by many employers. These offers, combined with the flexible shift scheduling available at many hospitals and care facilities make it possible to go from a LPN, to RN, to RN with BSN and on to acquiring a master's in your desired specialty without hefty student loans or a disruption of your income.

The Future of Nursing

Clearly all nursing professions will continue to grow over the next ten years. Nursing is an excellent career choice for those who wish to make a good income, have a flexible schedule, and continue their education. While the hours can be long, and the work physical, a quality nurse should never find themselves without their choice of jobs.

While long hours and the physical demands of the job may scare some people off, many others are attracted to the flexibility, the fast paced environment, and the ability to help others. For those concerned about the rigors of a nursing career, there are many positions available in private doctor's offices, public schools, and other lower stress environments. Nursing, whether in a clinical setting or administrative is a job in great demand.

Overview of Nursing School Programs

2009-01-27T07:23:00.000-08:00

By Lisa Parker

If you are interested in obtaining a degree in nursing, you could not have picked a better time. Nurses are in great demand today, and with people living longer, that demand is likely to increase in the coming years. Nursing school programs can be characterized by the type of degree they offer, and although there are actually 5 degree types that one can obtain as a nurse, the more popular degrees are the Associate's and the bachelor's. However, if you are interested in newer professions such as forensic nursing, there are also certificate programs. Maybe you are considering legal consultation or teaching and you may even decide to get your master's degree. The other defining characteristic is whether you are in an online or distance learning program, or taking courses at a traditional college or university.The Associate's degree programs focus predominately on teaching students what is needed to prepare them to enter the workforce with the skills of a professional nurse. Their education typically has four major components, which consist of evaluation of care, health teaching, wellness and prevention, and the administration of treatments and medications. The evaluation component includes observation, nursing diagnosis, assessment, and intervention. The main focus of the Associate's degree is for their student to achieve employment either while in school or directly after graduation. Although it is not a requirement, most nursing programs for a bachelor's degree operate from the assumption that most of their students are registered nurses and/or they have already obtained their Associate's degree in nursing. The focus of these programs is to prepare students for a higher position, such as a supervisory role, or to enter into a master's degree program. These programs usually revolve around the cultural, political, economic and social issues that can affect patients and the health care industry in general. There is also a focus on understanding the allocation and management of resources, which includes but is not limited to, people, money, and time. The most common variations of the Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing or a student's route to this degree include going from an RN to a bachelor's degree. Other variations include the accelerated bachelor's program, LPN to a bachelor's, the traditional 4-year bachelor's, the online RN – bachelor's degree, and the second-degree bachelor's program. The master's degree program revolves around the type of career you want, as you can get a master's degree that focuses on a more specific nursing path such as, Nursing, Nurse Education, Midwifery, Administration, and Health Care Systems Management. If your focus revolves around Nursing, Nursing Education, Midwifery, or any other similar specialty, your training should focus more on the actual health and expanding upon the knowledge received in your previous educational programs. If you have decided on receiving a masters degree with a focus on Leadership in Healthcare Systems, Nursing Administration, Health Care Systems Management, or any other similar specialty, your program should focus on management, leadership, finance, managed care strategies, workforce management, and other courses designed to prepare students for obtaining leadership positions in their chosen health care organization.

It is important to note that in the field of nursing many programs often offer certificates as well as degree programs. The certificate programs are more specialized than degree programs and there are certificates that can be obtained before you receive a bachelor's degree or after you gain your master's degree. Some of the certificate programs that are pre-master's degree include case management and geriatric care management. A few certificates for those with a master's degree include legal nurse consulting and life care planning. Most online schools and traditional colleges and universities also offer more specialized programs like the Nurse Practitioner program and Clinical Nursing Specialist programs. As other nursing careers and specialties gain popularity, you should begin seeing more degree and/or certificate programs available in the field of Nursing. Unlike online programs, colleges and universities can boast a combination of classroom training, lab work, and on the job experience as a part of their programs. Although this has been the greatest advantage of traditional schooling, some online programs are starting to catch up, especially the distance learning programs. One of the greatest selling points of distance learning offered by traditional colleges and/or universities is the ability to graduate or "walk" with their traditional program peers. Yet, the main draw of complete online programs is the ability to gain a degree on your own time that works with your schedule while allowing you to work a full time job. Take your time and financial situation into account before settling in on a program. Regardless of the certificate or degree program that you choose, be sure that you pick a program that is good for you. There are many options available in the field of nursing and this information can help you find the correct path to the degree that you are seeking.

Lisa Parker is a freelance writer who writes about topics pertaining to nurses and the nursing profession including nursing school and nursing accessories.

Comprehensive Nursing Care Plans

2009-01-26T07:42:00.000-08:00

Care planning is an essential part of healthcare, but is often misunderstood or regarded as a waste of time. Without a specific document delineating the plan of care, important issues are likely to be neglected. Care planning provides a “road map” of sorts, to guide all who are involved with a patient/resident's care.

The care plan has long been associated with nursing, and many people believe that it is the sole domain of nurses. To be effective and comprehensive, the care planning process must involve all disciplines that are involved in the care of the patient/resident.

Nursing care plans are an essential part of nursing practice that provide a written means of planning patient care and discharging plan based upon nursing diagnosis. Nursing care plans functions as a means of communicating patient care needs between members of the nursing team to ensure those needs are met. Written nursing care plans also serve as a means to document changes in patient’s condition, adjustments or additions to nursing diagnosis, as well as patient responses to nursing or medical treatment. Nursing care plans enable nurses to provide a holistic approach to patient needs both while hospitalized and after discharge.

Nursing care plans must always be individualized for each patient’s needs. It would be better if nurse staffing ratios would allow nurses adequate time to sit at a desk and utilize their expertise to create a complete admission to discharge and home care plan after careful review of patient history, medical records, physical assessment, and applicable nursing diagnosis. We live in an imperfect world however and nurses do not have adequate time to research each patient’s history and needs and write a comprehensive plan of care from scratch for each patient during their hectic shift. Understaffed nurses try to keep up, but when time is short mistakes happen more easily and some aspects of the nursing care plan may be omitted. Stock care plans, care plan software, and nursing care plan books are useful as reference tools to help ensure potential problems associated with their particular patient are not overlooked during the nursing care planning process.

The ultimate purpose of nursing care plans is to guide all who are involved in the care of this person to provide the appropriate treatment in order to ensure the optimal outcome during his/ her stay in our healthcare setting. A caregiver unfamiliar with the patient/resident should be able to find all the information needed to care for this person in the care plan.

It is important to design nursing care plans that provide adequate safety to the patient, make things less distressing to the family, and utilizes resources appropriately.

Become a Nurse Educator In PA

2009-01-22T07:10:00.000-08:00

Nurse educators combine clinical expertise with a passion for teaching. With the growing demand for nurses, nursing schools nationwide are struggling to find qualified faculty. Nurse educators have a unique opportunity to shape the next generation of nurses. Most report that the most rewarding aspect of their work is their interaction with students. They also enjoy flexible schedules and constant intellectual stimulation, including opportunities to work with the latest cutting-edge research.

Nurse Educator Career Overview

Nurse educators may teach at the undergraduate level preparing licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and registered nurses (RNs) for entry into practice positions. They may also teach master's and doctoral level programs, helping educate advanced practice nurses, nurse educators, nurse administrators, nurse researchers and future nursing leaders.

Because their skills are in high demand, nurse educators enjoy tremendous job security. They often maintain dual roles as educators and direct patient care providers. They are role models for less experienced nurses, and they work to ensure a quality undergraduate or graduate education experience for nurses in training. They also design, implement, evaluate and revise academic and continuing education programs for nurses.

Nurse educator job titles may include Instructional or Administrative Nurse Faculty, Clinical Nurse Educator, Staff Development Officer and Continuing Education Specialist, among others.

Nurse Educator Education

To teach in LPN, associate degree or bachelor's degree programs, the following requirements are preferred:

- Registered nurse licensure and experience.
- A Master's degree in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctoral degree in Nursing (PhD), depending on whether you're interested in teaching in a graduate program. These degrees must include a major emphasis on nursing education or another nursing specialty.
- Advanced training and experience in a clinical specialty. You can then supplement this experience with coursework in education, such as a post-Master's certificate in education. To learn about upgrading your nursing degree, see our article about nursing continuing education
- Your nursing certification. The National League of Nursing offers Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) certification as a mark of excellence in the specialty role of the academic nurse educator

Nurse Educator Salary

Salaries for nurse educators vary widely depending on their role, specialty, qualifications, experience and location. At the higher end, Salary.com reports that the median expected salary for the Director of a Nursing School is $101,825. The middle 50 percent of nurses in this type of position earn between $84,743 and $114,705.

Also according to Salary.com, a Nursing Education Coordinator earns a median salary of $71,297. In general, nurse educators earn significantly more than RNs because of their advanced skills. Their earnings are comparable to those of an advanced practice nurse, but with more flexible hours and a more predictable workload.

Professional Standards and Expectations for Nurses

2009-01-21T05:11:00.000-08:00

Every major profession carries with it a group of expectations and standards by which those that work within each industry must adhere to in order to maintain quality practice. These standards are, in many ways, how institutions and businesses gain the trust of their clients, or in the case of nursing the trust of their patients, which enables the institution to become legitimate.

There is no business sector which needs standards and expectations more than any profession within the medical and health services field. This is a field by which employees are working with people on a daily basis, and the quality of their lives and health care. As such, maintaining a set of practices and standards are imperative. Because nursing is the profession through which more patients will have one on one contact with than many other professions in health services, standards are even more important. While each country and each specialization of nursing carries with it its own unique sets of standards and expectations, nurses have a common ground where they meet, and why their standards are understood across every field, and every country.

Standards within a professional practice are known as statements of an authoritative nature through which the profession to which they relate to provide a unique description of the responsibilities of all practitioners within that profession. Further, the standards and expectations are in place to ensure that all practitioners are also accountable for the work and duties they perform. When it comes to nursing, this is done in order to create boundaries and to provide a level of care that is equitable for all patients. Further, the priorities and values of nurses must be common to each nurse within the profession, and the standards and expectations outlines this as such.

While standards will vary in specifics across nursing specializations, and across countries, there is a general mindset as to what is expected of nurses in terms of expectations and standards. They are intended to provide daily guidance to nurses as they practice. Accountability, ethics, competence, knowledge, and the practical application of knowledge are key elements that are common to all nursing standards and expectations.

Nurses are required to be held accountable for every action that they take on a daily basis. This requires constant documentation of every element of their daily job, and following a chain of command within their select position. They are also required to maintain ethical standards within their practice, and to follow all ethical guidelines as set forth by their governing body of nursing. Furthermore, nurses are expected to have a set amount of knowledge before they enter the field of practitioner work, and with that knowledge set come an expectation of competence and practical application. Nurses are expected to be competent in their knowledge base such that they know and understand what they are supposed to in the medical field, and also, are supposed to know how to apply that knowledge in a practical manner.

For example, nurses will be taught in school how to implement an IV procedure. Knowing how to do this is not enough, nurses should be able to apply this knowledge practically through the actual conduct of IV procedures, and should be capable and competent of doing so.

Quality Assurance is another issue that is common across all standards and expectations for nurses. Through this, quality assurance standards ensure that nurses are practicing with quality efforts which in itself promote their competence and practical applications. This will require continuous education on the part of the individual nurse, as quality assurance standards across many medical centers, cities, and countries are in a constant state of evolution. It is the responsibility of the nurse practitioner to understand their quality assurance expectations at all times.

Confidentiality is another element of most standards and expectations for nurses. This is a requirement that nurses do not have an option to practice or not. Legislation and privacy concerns are in effect all across the globe, and nurses have the expectation that they will maintain confidential and private information for their patients within the patient doctor realm. Patients use medical services under the understanding that their information and medical records are not being seen by the wrong person, or found in the wrong hands, and because nurses have the most contact between patient and doctor, these are standards of paramount significance to the nursing profession.

While these are only a tip of the iceberg when it comes to nursing standards and expectations, these standards are among the most common across specializations and countries.

Pennsylvania Ranked in Top 5 States for Nursing Job Availability

2009-01-20T04:47:00.000-08:00

Talk about your double-edged sword, Pennsylvania is ranked in the top 5 states for job opportunities for nurses.

In the time of a bad recession that's good news for those looking for work or thinking of a career change. Nursing has proved to be a fairly good recession proof job and offers not only job security, but a career that is a very well paying profession.

The downside is that this statistic also reflects Pennsylvania's desperate need for nurses and nurse educators. This need has gone unfulfilled for a few years and only looks to get worse as the baby boomers are set to retire or slow down.

There is an estimated need for 128,100 RNs, 43,350 LPNs and 37,500 CNAs by the end of 2016. That is a total of 208,950 nursing-related jobs that will need filling in the next eight years.

If you are interested in a career in nursing or you are a current nurse looking to become a nurse educator, visit futuresinnursing.org and find out how the Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation can help you afford your education.

PHEF & The Pennsylvania Nursing Assistance Fund

2009-01-19T06:05:00.000-08:00

Purpose
The Pennsylvania Nursing Assistance Fund of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation was established to provide assistance to students and schools for nursing education in Pennsylvania. The fund will provide grant and scholarship monies to nursing students through the use of donations from individuals and organizations directed to Pennsylvania schools of nursing.

Overview
Until recently, the equilibrium of new nurses entering the profession versus tenured nurses retiring remained stable. However, the cycle of quality health care will quickly decline because although demands on the nursing profession are increasing, new entries in the profession are not keeping pace with planned retirements.

Through the Pennsylvania Nursing Assistance Fund, the Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation hopes to reverse this trend by giving students access to nursing education by offering grants or scholarships that otherwise would not be available.

The Pennsylvania Nursing Assistance Fund will directly impact the number of educational opportunities students and schools will have to help the Commonwealth continue its cycle of quality health care.

There are numerous flexible giving opportunities for donors to participate in this fund with specific schools, student populations and programs in mind, based on individual interests and relationships. Scholarship and grant naming opportunities as well as generous matching funds from the Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation are available to foundation, corporate and individual donors.

Guidelines
For information on guidelines, or to find out if your institution is a recipient of the Pennsylvania Nursing Assistance Fund, contact your school’s nursing department. Contact the Foundation office for more information on giving opportunities.

Facts About Nursing Shortage

2009-01-15T06:43:00.000-08:00

A report entitled “Projected Supply, Demand, and Shortages of Registered Nurses: 2000-2020” alleged:

Based on what is known about trends in the supply of Registered Nurses and their anticipated demand, nursing shortage is expected to grow relatively slowly until 2010, by which time it will have reached 12 percent. At that point demand will begin to exceed supply at an accelerated rate and by 2015 the shortage, a relatively modest 6 percent in the year 2000, will have almost quadrupled to 20 percent.

American hospitals are in a serious crisis, from large numbers of uninsured patients to spiraling costs, from outlandishly expensive prescription drugs to a severe and dangerous shortage of nurses. Emergency rooms are shutting down, surgeries are delayed and, most disturbing of all, patients are sometimes not getting the critical care they desperately need.

There are many factors behind the nursing shortage. Unlike a generation or two ago, young women with an aptitude for sciences now have a multitude of career opportunities to choose from. Many of the other career choices today involve less stressful and less strenuous work than bedside nursing. Generally speaking, a position with a managed-care company or a pharmaceutical sales job is less physically demanding than nursing.

The need for nurses is often depicted as cyclical in nature. Throughout history, the USA has experienced a series of nursing surpluses and shortages. However, the current nursing shortage has been characterized as being unlike those experienced in the past. Trends of an ageing RN/ Registered Nurse workforce and limited supply to fill the impending vacancies are some of the unique aspects that bring a new dimension to an old problem. Today's nursing shortage will not be resolved by simply returning to the solutions of yesteryear, and strategies to reduce its impact will have to be more creative and focus on the long-term.

The widely publicized nursing shortage in the United States is largely a result of three factors: the aging population of nurses; the aging population in the U.S.; and a shift in healthcare delivery away from doctors, towards skilled nurses. Also are four major contributors to the nursing shortage in the USA: the ageing RN workforce; declining enrolment; changing work climate; and the poor image of nursing.

Solutions to the shortage followed similar themes to the contributing factors and encompassed four main areas: exploring recruitment efforts; exploring retainment efforts; improving the image of nursing; and supporting legislation that helps to rectify the shortage.

As new career options grow for women over the past few decades, and fewer women choose to go into nursing, another shortage begins to emerge. All of these factors point to the fact that the nursing shortage won't be reversed overnight.

Avoid Malpractice Lawsuit By Upholding Appropriate Nursing Documentation

2009-01-14T04:51:00.000-08:00

In nursing practice, there should be no room for errors. Everything must be well accounted for and documented in order to provide the necessary treatment and care for patients. If nursing documentation isn’t done the right way, the nurse can be in real trouble. All the nurses are well aware of the standard for nursing practice, which require every one of them to document appropriate and accurate reports of significant observations including conclusions obtained from those observations.

A truthful and precise nursing documentation can help nurses defend themselves in the case of malpractice lawsuit, not to mention keeping them of court or possible imprisonment. There will never be any lawsuit due to malpractice if only proper nursing documentation is being followed. Besides, it is not something that nurses learn only during the first day of their job. They were trained to do it while they were still studying. They will never become nurses in the first place had they not learned how to chart everything affecting patient’s care, will they?

In nursing documentation, there are certain things that nurses can do and cannot do in order for them to avoid mistakes. Again, there’s no room for mistakes when it comes to nursing practice. Let us first take a look at the things nurses can do. Before doing any nursing documentation, make sure you have the right chart. It may sound very basic, but it is important, in case there’s an error, the investigation starts here. Also, make your writing readable, because you won’t be the only one to read the documentation.

Make sure that your documentation reflects the nursing process and your professional skills. The times when you give medications, the administration route, and the patients’ responses should be correctly charted. Any precautions or preventive measure used must be recorded, as well as phone calls to a physician with exact time message and response. If there’s an important point you remember after the completion of nursing documentation, record the information with a note that it’s a late entry.

Now, let’s go to the things nurses cannot do. In a nursing documentation, bear in mind that you cannot change or modify any patient’s record as it is a criminal offense, but of course nurses knew this already. You cannot document what other people said or observed, unless the information is serious and important. You cannot and should not document care ahead of time as something may happen and you may not be able to five the care you have documented beforehand. Besides, charting care that wasn’t done is fraud, so think about it!

Be specific on your descriptions, you cannot just describe something vaguely, like large amount or bed soaked. In order to uphold accurate nursing documentation, you cannot use abbreviations, or shorthand that are not widely accepted or better yet, don’t use them at all. That way, you can provide nursing documentation that is legible for anyone to read.

As you may have noticed, nursing documentation is a serious procedure that should be done the right way without any errors at all. The reminder is worth repeating, considering what you may end up with in case something goes wrong in you documentation. So, be very careful!

Domino Effect of Nursing Educator Shortage

2009-01-13T07:18:00.000-08:00

In researching the data concerning the shortage of nurses and nurse educators in the United States, I came across a very interesting article written by Mary Ruff-King.

Mary Ruff-King is a 15-year veteran medical transcriptionist who loves to write articles about medical transcription, nursing, forensics, the health field in general, and other topics of interest. Here article entitled "Is The Nurse Educator Shortage In America Endangering Only Our Healthcare System?" will give you a global perspective about the nursing crisis.

This article is a very well written and I urge all of you to click on the link below and read it.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Is-The-Nurse-Educator-Shortage-In-America-Endangering-Only-Our-Healthcare-System?&id=729155

Nursing Spectrum – The RN Magazine

2009-01-12T04:32:00.000-08:00

Nursing Spectrum is a nurse-led communications company that publishes a bi-weekly magazine and produces a website that celebrates the nursing profession.

Nursing Spectrum is a division of Gannett Co., Inc., which is a leading international news and information company that publishes 91 daily newspapers in the USA including USA TODAY, the nation's largest-selling daily newspaper.

Nursing Spectrum promotes the recognition and support of the nursing community by providing timely, relevant, and compelling information through its award winning magazines, annual career guides, websites (nursingspectrum.com), Nursing Spectrum Continuing Education services, and Nursing Spectrum Career Fitness® Expos reaching over 1-million Registered Nurses and other healthcare professionals worldwide. Also the Nursing Spectrum's Division of Continuing Education is accredited at the highest level by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Nursing Spectrum's jobs database is the most complete source of current RN employment listings in existence. Nurses are also attracted to Nursing Spectrum because their products celebrate nurses and nursing as an exciting, fulfilling career choice. Nursing Spectrum's “voice” is upbeat and pro-nurse, and the tone is one of validation, encouragement, and support.

The mission at Nursing Spectrum is to create and deliver compelling nursing content, products, and services to RN readers and users. Nursing Spectrum has offices in California, Texas, Chicago, New York, Washington DC, Fort Lauderdale, Philadelphia, and Boston.

Nursing Spectrum and NurseWeek, two industry leaders in the nursing recruitment, information, and education industry, announced on Feb. 2, 2004 an agreement in which Nursing Spectrum has acquired NurseWeek from Jobson Publishing, LLC. Jobson Publishing is a well-known and well-respected leader in specialty healthcare publishing, communications, and medical education.

NurseWeek and Nursing Spectrum have a combined total of more than 30 years of experience educating, informing, and supporting registered nurses and serving the needs of nurse recruiters. The fact that NurseWeek and Nursing Spectrum share these common goals makes this acquisition a perfect fit. Both NurseWeek and Nursing Spectrum are known for their love of nurses and their employers who sponsor free magazine with their advertising.

Nursing Spectrum sponsors many nursing association and individual projects; scholarships; recognition activities; and reaches locally, nationally, and internationally. Nursing Spectrum is a national sponsor of Johnson & Johnson's Campaign for Nursing's Future. Nursing Spectrum is also an official media sponsor of Nurses for a Healthier Tomorrow, a consortium of 43 major nursing associations addressing the nursing shortage with an innovative communications campaign to draw young people into nursing. Through the Gannett Foundation, Nursing Spectrum regularly donates funds to nursing-related associations and causes. In addition to these philanthropic activities, the Nursing Spectrum believe their greatest contribution is in recognizing, supporting, and celebrating nursing as an honorable, rewarding career filled with passion, joy, and soul.

Nursing Scholarship Programs Funding

2009-01-08T10:11:00.000-08:00

Qualifications to be a Nurse Educator

2009-01-06T17:04:00.000-08:00

Nurse educators need to have excellent communication skills, be creative, have a solid clinical background, be flexible and possess excellent critical thinking skills. They also need to have a substantive knowledge base in their area(s) of instruction and have the skills to convey that knowledge in a variety of ways to those who are less expert.

Nurse educators need to display a commitment to lifelong learning, exercise leadership and be concerned with the scholarly development of the discipline. They should have a strong knowledge base in theories of teaching, learning and evaluation; be able to design curricula and programs that reflect sound educational principles; be able to assess learner needs; be innovative; and enjoy teaching.

Those who practice in academic settings also need to be future-oriented so they can anticipate the role of the nurse in the future and adapt curriculum and teaching methods in response to innovations in nursing science and ongoing changes in the practice environment. They need advisement and counseling skills, research and other scholarly skills, and an ability to collaborate with other disciplines to plan and deliver a sound educational program.

Nurse educators who practice in clinical settings need to anticipate changes and expectations so they can design programs to prepare nurses to meet those challenges. They need to be able to plan educational programs for staff with various levels of ability, develop and manage budgets, and argue for resources and support in an environment where education is not the primary mission.

Profiling: The Pennsylania Higher Education Foundation

2009-01-05T17:48:00.001-08:00

Today's profile on an organization is for the Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation, an organization dedicated to strengthening the nursing community in PA.

One visit to their website (www.futuresinnursing.org) and you can see the time and care which was spent detailing everything from student aid to nursing basics. The PHEF donates millions of dollars each year to nursing schools in Pennsylvania to assist their academic program in nursing for increasing enrollment, improve student retention, and improve licensure pass rates. Schools can also use these funds given to them by the PHEF to improve an already existing program that they have in place.

For information on the Foundations, contact:
Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation
Higher Education Foundation
Suite 101
1200 North Seventh Street
Harrisburg, PA 17102-1444
Phone 717.720.3961

For media inquiries, contact Keith New at 717.720.2509.

U.S. News Adds Registered Nurse as Strong Careers in 2009

2009-01-04T18:16:00.000-08:00

U.S. News lists Registered Nurses as one of the top careers in 2009 for a strong outlook and high in job satisfaction.

FROM U.S. NEWS.COM

Overview. There's great unmet demand for nurses, and you'll have lots of options. If you want to work directly with patients, you can specialize in everything from neonatology to hospice care. You can work in a hospital, a doctor's office, or a patient's home. Outside of patient care, options range from nurse informatics (helping nurses get access to computerized information) to legal nurse consulting (helping lawyers assess a claim's validity.)

On the downside, many registered nurses must work nights and weekends, and burnout is a factor, especially in medical/surgical wards, and in critical-care specialties such as surgery, oncology, and emergency medicine. There are potential hazards, too: exposure to people with communicable diseases and back injuries from moving patients.

Something to think about: Studies report large numbers of errors by healthcare providers that endanger or kill patients. This is a career for people who are both caring and extremely attentive to detail—even when stressed.

The article also sites the salary data as well as training information with additional links to other sources of information.

For complete article, visit the link below:

http://www.usnews.com/articles/business/best-careers/2008/12/11/best-careers-2009-registered-nurse.html

Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation gave $12 million in Nursing Grants for 2008-2009

2008-12-30T06:26:00.000-08:00

The Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation (PHEF) Board of Directors today announced funding allocations for its Nursing Education Grants for the 2008-09 academic year. PHEF will distribute the grants to Pennsylvania nursing education schools statewide to assist in the creation and retention of new nursing students and nurse educators.

LPN and RN programs at 127 Pennsylvania Schools of Nursing will receive a total of $10.4 million while 35 Graduate Schools of Nursing will share $3 million in grant funding. The Nursing Education Grant awards for individual nursing schools will be announced in July.

“The Foundation has contributed more than $66 million through its various programs in support of Pennsylvania nursing students since 2003,” said Representative William Adolph, Foundation Board member. “It is vitally important that we continue assisting students and nursing schools because the health of our citizens is ultimately at stake.”

“The beauty of the Foundation's student aid programs is that they are privately-funded by generous donors from the healthcare community as well as private individuals,” noted Senator Sean Logan. “In today's difficult economic environment it would be extremely difficult for the State to fund these important programs that are so vital to the health of our citizens.”

The PHEF Nursing Education Grant Program was created to help reverse Pennsylvania's nursing shortage by generating non-taxpayer supported funding which otherwise is not available to schools of nursing. This funding, in turn, helps Pennsylvania schools increase the recruitment and retention rates of their nursing programs, providing more qualified nurses for the citizens of Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania nursing schools must submit an award proposal to PHEF to receive Nursing Education Grants. Once approved, the nursing schools administer and distribute the awards to their qualifying students based on their unique awarding criteria. Nursing students should contact their school's financial aid office or nursing department for eligibility information.

In addition to the funding for the Nursing Education Grants, the PHEF Board approved more than $1 million to provide awards through the Dr. Edna McKenzie Scholarship for Disadvantaged Students program. Ninety-seven Pennsylvania schools of nursing will each receive $10,310 in scholarship money. The scholarship is named for the late Dr. Edna McKenzie, a distinguished educator, long-time member of the PHEF Board, and noted African American historian.

PHEF was created five years ago and began offering financial support shortly thereafter to help students afford their nursing education. The Foundation currently offers numerous aid programs for students, including:

- Nursing Education Grants
- Nurse Scholars Program for graduate nursing students
- Low-income Nursing Students Tax Credit Program
- Graduate Nurse Education Grant
- Nursing Faculty Development Grants
- Dr. Edna B. McKenzie Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students
- The Foundation also supports the Big 33 Nursing Scholarship Program and the Pennsylvania Chapter of the Health Occupation Students of America (Penn Hosa) Scholarship Program

“Nursing students frequently tell me how important these awards are to them,” said Elinor Z. Taylor, PHEF Board Chairman. “Sometimes the Foundation's awards make the difference between continuing their program of study or dropping out. With the shortage of nurses we are experiencing, every nursing student that graduates is important.”

For more information on PHEF's student aid programs for nursing students, visit FuturesInNursing.org.

Misericordia University: An 84-year Tradition of Hospitality, Justice, Mercy and Service

2008-12-29T05:14:00.000-08:00

By Cynthia Mailloux, PhD, R.N.
Associate Professor
Chair Nursing Dept - Misericordia University

Misericordia University - Description of Program

Misericordia’s nursing program is committed to providing an educational experience which produces competent nurses who are critical thinkers and educated consumers of research. This program prepares its graduates for productive careers in nursing and advocates for life-long learning. As an entry-level professional program, the nursing curriculum reflects a commitment to the relationship between liberal arts and professional studies that enables graduates to adapt to constantly evolving societal and professional needs. The Department of Nursing is committed to the provision of affordable, quality professional education that expresses the founding Sisters' values and attitudes of hospitality, justice, mercy, and service. The overall goal is to develop a competent professional who will provide the highest quality of care to individuals, aggregates, and populations.

The goals/outcomes support the mission of the University and the principles of academic excellence, service leadership, and professional preparation which are components of the Trinity of Learning. Evidence based practice is a strong component of this curriculum which requires students to critically think and problem solve. This curriculum will build on the reputation of the nursing program and continue to provide high quality graduates. The proposed changes are consistent with the program’s mission, goals and educational goals of the university.

Philosophy for Misericordia’s Department of Nursing

The nursing department at Misericordia University supports the mission statement and philosophy of the University. The undergraduate nursing program is based on a complementary relationship between liberal arts and professional studies. The approach to education focuses on critical thinking, as well as on the values and attitudes of justice, mercy, service, and hospitality. Humans are viewed as intellectual, spiritual and creative beings that are in constant interaction with their environments. Human beings have the potential for self-direction based on their developmental level and are characterized by the capacity for emotion, reasoning, and perceiving. The holistic view of humans takes into account the physical structure, mind and spirit of the individual, as well as the environment in which each functions. Humans interact on the basis of respect for each other’s worth and dignity.

The environment as experienced by human beings is multidimensional and dynamic. It can be viewed as encompassing biological, physical, psychological, socio-cultural, political and economic forces. Human beings experience the environment as individuals, families, groups and communities who can be described in terms of micro-systems and macro-systems.

Health is a dynamic sense of wellness, which results from a process of making choices over time. A particular sense of wellness is perceived by individuals and is influenced by their self-esteem, inner sense of meaning, and desire to achieve their highest potential.

Nursing is an art, involved in caring, and a science based on its own theory and research. The nursing process guides nursing practice and involves critical thinking as related to the cognitive, affective and psychomotor domains of knowing. Ethical and legal issues have a strong impact on the practice of nursing. Professional nursing is a vital, effective health service to the community. The faculty believes that professional nursing is committed to making quality health care available and accessible to all, thus reflecting the commitment to mercy, justice, and service. Professional nursing exerts an influence on, and is influenced by several factors that contribute to the complexity of the health care system. These include: the newly developing patterns of providing services, the roles of other members of the health team, scientific and technological advances, research, and social and economic pressures. Leadership in nursing involves directing and managing client care, as well as collaborating with other health care professionals.

Learning is directed toward the development of values and professional role identification. It is lifelong and involves developmental changes. Learning involves critical thinking, which encompasses analysis and synthesis of knowledge. The faculty believes that learning occurs when the student actively participates in the learning process. Students have the responsibility to achieve their highest potential with the assistance of the faculty who act as facilitators. Teaching, therefore, is a collaborative process in which a student assumes progressive responsibility for personal learning.

Undergraduate education in nursing is built on a strong core of general education requirements and is generic in nature. Included within the undergraduate nursing curriculum are liberal arts and the sciences such as nutrition, anatomy and physiology, and developmental psychology, as well as other pure and behavioral sciences. The undergraduate program prepares nurse generalists who are capable of using nursing research, nursing process, and theories in a variety of settings. Students are prepared for graduate study in nursing.

Graduate education enables professional nurses to realize their creative leadership potential and provides opportunities for collaborative functioning with health professionals and others in effecting change in nursing practice and health care. Specialization occurs on the graduate level which provides for in-depth knowledge and experience in specific clinical and functional areas. Advanced knowledge provides the foundation for effective leadership in nursing. Scientific inquiry is an integral part of graduate education in nursing. Such inquiry provides the basis for acquisition of increased competencies in utilization of research and increased knowledge base in the analysis and synthesis of theories related to the practice of nursing. Graduate education provides the foundation for doctoral study in nursing.

Is Psychiatric Nursing Your Calling

2008-12-22T19:31:00.000-08:00

Are you looking for information on psychiatric nursing? Well, you have come to the right place. Anyone, who is interested in psychiatric nursing, is very much welcome to be part of this challenging yet rewarding profession. With the shortage of nurses in any specialization of nursing, any person who wants to become a nurse is greatly encouraged, especially in psychiatry nursing.

We live in a society where people find it easier to talk about physical illness than psychiatric or mental condition. It is not every day that you meet someone who has interest in psychiatric nursing. So, if you really want to become a psychiatric nurse, then you should know what steps to take in order for you to get started.

The first thing you should is what educational preparation to accomplish in order to gain entry in psychiatric nursing. Just like in any other profession, to become a registered nurse, you must take a nursing program offered in many nursing schools. You can choose either a two-year program leading to an associate degree in nursing, a three-year program for a diploma in nursing, or a four-year college or university leading to a Bachelor’s degree in nursing. All of these options are eligible to take registered nursing licensing examination upon graduation.

To help you finally decide if psychiatric nursing is really your calling, it helps if you do some volunteering works in any institutions where you will have a chance to encounter patients with psychiatric condition. If you still feel that this what you really wanted to do, then you should possess skills, such as good communication and relationships skills, and an extensive foundation in the basic and behavioral science to become a psychiatric nurse. Also, if you want to have a strong foundation in psychiatric nursing, might as well obtain a Master’s Degree in this specialization, just like what most people interested in psychiatric nursing do.

Now, let’s go to the scope of responsibility of a psychiatric nurse. There are actually two levels in clinical practice of psychiatric-mental health nursing or simply psychiatric nursing: basic and advanced. As a basic level nurse, you will work with individuals, groups, and communities, evaluating mental health needs, developing a nursing diagnosis as well as a nursing care plan, and then assessing the nursing care.

Advanced Practice Registered Nurses or APRN, on the other hand, have a Master’s degree in psychiatric-mental health nursing, therefore assume a position of either Clinical Nurse Specialist or Nurse Practitioner. So, the job of APRNs in psychiatric-mental health nursing includes the duties of basic level nurse, diagnose and treat individuals or families with psychiatric conditions. Also, they act as psychotherapists, educators, consultants, advanced case managers, and administrators.

Nursing Degree through Internet Access

2008-12-18T11:27:00.000-08:00

Earning a nursing degree through internet access in one the convenient ways you can realize your dreams of becoming a nurse. As you must have known, the shortage of nurses in the country resulted to a rise in interest of many people in the field of nursing. And the fact that there is a shortage, your chances of landing on a job are great!

Nursing Degree through internet access is for those who wanted to become a nurse, but cannot attend regular classes in real school environment. If you already have a work at the present, and attending to regular classes is out of the question, you can’t just say bye-bye to your dream just like that. If there’s a wheel, there’s a way! Making your dream come true is just a piece of piece if you have a strong determination. All you need is to have access to the internet. It’s as easy as that! Once you have internet connection, you easily take up some nursing programs online offered by several nursing schools. Now, isn’t that convenient?

Also, it would greatly help you decide whether or not to pursue obtaining nursing degree through internet access or attend a regular class in real schools. Besides the fact that, online nursing degree program can be taken at your own home, the big difference that you have to get used to is access to support tools. You see, getting your nursing degree through internet access takes a lot of commitment from you. You may find studying online boring, but depending on how important getting a degree in nursing to you is, I’m sure you can get the hang of it.

The system of online nursing degree programs lets you finish the course at your own pace, which means that you can study you lesson submit assignments or project when you want it. If you are not comfortable with this arrangement, taking online degree programs may not work for you.

In order for you get started, you should first choose in what specialization to focus. Yes, there are a lot of areas in nursing for you to choose from and all those areas are also need additional nurses. There are associates, Bachelor’s, and Master’s degree programs that are available whatever areas or specialization in nursing you are interested in.

Your inability to attend regular classes at school should not be considered a hindrance in realizing your dream to become a nurse, but a challenge to face in taking a big leap to take advantage of the alternative, which is to take a nursing degree through internet access. There’s always a solution to every problem. Now, you have the solution to yours; just make sure you do your part of the bargain.

Nursing Scrubs – Special Clothing

2008-12-17T07:02:00.000-08:00

Scrubs came into existence in the 20th century. Scrubs are medical uniforms. Scrubs got its name from the practice of physicians of thoroughly washing or “scrubbing” their hands before performing surgery. Doctors and Surgeons should also wear scrubs during surgery. Nowadays, every people working at hospitals are bound to wear scrubs to avoid any spreading of germs and bacteria.

The traditional starched white uniforms with white cap, white stockings, white socks and fitted dress of nurses has been replaced by nursing scrubs. White clothing was found to reflect light, thus changing their special clothing to green.

Nursing scrubs are usually worn during surgery. Nursing scrubs should be loose-fitting and very comfortable for complete mobility, as nurses move a lot from one place to another, and nurses are required to be alert.

Nursing scrubs are a pair of cotton or cotton/polyester pants with a drawstring, short sleeved, and v-neck top, all of which are the same material. They are made so because cotton is absorbent and reduces bad smell. Cotton nursing scrubs are used for both aesthetic and health reasons. These scrubs are very comfortable to wear and easy to clean. They are also very good in stopping bad smells and body odors. Nursing scrubs should be washed at high temperatures to kill any germs or bacteria.

Traditionally, nursing scrubs are light green, but now they come in different colors and patterns. The light green scrubs first became popular in the 1970s. Many hospitals use a variety of colors to determine different departments. Nursing scrubs have decorated designs and patterns like bears, racecars, clowns or other cartoon characters to help make patients especially children feel at ease.

Nursing scrubs may come in pink or lavender for the delivery department, light blue scrubs for surgical staff, dark blue for the emergency department, light blue green in color worn during surgery. Hospitals can also imprint their logos or hospital names on the scrubs to add a professional touch. Others also require to wear pins or badge together with their scrubs for identification purposes.

Nurses and doctors alike work exceptionally long hours. That’s why their special clothing are expected to keep up with them.

The front-button nursing scrubs are worn by nurses helping inside the operating rooms. These types give them comfort and ease of movement. Sometimes, they are equipped with a waist-length long-sleeved jacket with no lapels.

Nowadays scrubs are not only found in the hospitals but also worn by housewives at home while cooking and washing to avoid stains and what not.

Salary Ranges for Nurse Educators

2008-12-16T09:37:00.001-08:00

If you currently a nurse and are considering changing your profession, making the change to nurse educator is your next logical step. You will make good use of your experience, there is financial aid available through the Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation (www.higheredfoundation.org), but the pay is also very competitive.

Nationwide, the average salary for a nurse educator with 1-4 years experience is $53,894. And the pay increases as your experience grows. The average salary of a nurse educator with 5-9 years experience is $61,273.

Many nurses express that there lack of interest in becoming a nurse educator is the decrease in pay, but when you compare the median hourly rate X 40 hour work week of an RN, a nurse actually makes $49,000 which is $4K less than a nurse educator. Granted, RN's will receive increased hourly compensation for working overtime, but in an apples to apples comparison there is little difference.

So if you are a nurse in Pennsylvania and looking for a change, consider a career in nurse education and teach the next generation of nurses. Don't forget to visit higheredfoundation.org to see if you can qualify for a grant or scholarship.

*Pay numbers in this article were obtained through Payscale.com and are current as of 12/2008.

Nursing: The Recession Proof Career

2008-12-15T08:31:00.000-08:00

Weak job growth. A slowing economy. A declining housing market. Troubles in the financial sector. The news is full of worrisome developments that may indicate instability for workers in many professions and industries. Yet one area appears to be unaffected by threats of a recession: nursing and allied health professions.

There have been news reports recently of professionals in other industries, discouraged by their job outlook, switching into nursing as a stable, recession-proof career. While second careers in nursing are not necessarily new, this trend’s impact is being heightened by concerns over job prospects in other professions. Yet even with career shifters, healthcare employers are still facing a critical shortage of qualified nursing talent.

Some industries may be instituting layoffs, but hospitals, clinics and other healthcare groups are scrambling to fill vacant nursing positions. And this shortage may become more acute in the coming years as an aging Baby Boomer population increases the need for nursing services:

- According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the number of vacancies for registered nurses (RNs) was 125,000 in 2005; that shortfall will grow to 800,000 by 2020.

- Online job availability for skilled healthcare occupations such as nursing is up 15% from a year ago, compared to a 5% decline overall across professions, according to the Monster Employment Index, which tracks online job availability.

- RNs are the most difficult positions to fill, sometimes taking more than 40 days to find a qualified candidate and costing recruiters an average of $3,175. Recruiters will have a slightly easier time finding candidates with skill sets in the areas of LVNs (Licensed Vocational Nurses) and CNAs (Certified Nurse Assistants).

- The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows employment growth in the healthcare sector averaging 23.8% between 2006 and 2014, with ambulatory healthcare services and nursing and residential care facilities showing the highest percentages of demand (33.1% and 24%, respectively.)

These statistics reflect only some of the obstacles recruiters and healthcare organizations face while trying to fill open positions. At a time when job seekers are looking for stable careers, recruiters can do a lot to demonstrate the appeal of nursing by following some long-term recruitment and retention strategies:

Reach out to the community
Look to the community to spread the word about the virtues of a nursing career. Encourage nurse managers within the organization to join community groups to educate people on available nursing positions. Host open houses, tours and seminars to introduce would-be career seekers to what life is like working in a medical environment. Leverage hospital publications and healthcare newsletters to highlight nursing careers and profile key employees.

Look to the schools – and beyond
Besides developing relationships with nursing schools, reach out to high schools – even elementary schools – to introduce the next generation to the benefits of a career in nursing. Sponsor career fairs and encourage nurse managers to speak at local schools. Look beyond traditional female candidates and establish programs to entice males to the career.

Provide a rich professional development program
Mentoring initiatives for nursing graduates, one-on-one buddy systems and assertiveness training are perks that may appeal to existing staffers and job seekers alike. Offering professional development training in areas such as acute care and operating room nursing can go a long way in giving current staffers a career path that keeps them engaged. Finally, make sure your organization has a complete orientation program so incoming nurses have enough time to get up to speed.

Heed salary and scheduling concerns
Flexible scheduling and job-sharing can attract a new audience as well as accommodate older nurses who have different scheduling needs and preferences. It goes without saying that competitive salaries and full benefits packages are a must to ensure your position is on par with – or stands out from – all of the other available postings.

Work on possible image problems
While nursing always ranks high in surveys as a trusted profession, many in the current workforce complain of being devalued by others in the medical community, particularly physicians. Healthcare organizations need to address this shortcoming by working with the human resources department and medical management to ensure others in the community treat the role with respect and value. Instituting a zero tolerance policy for disruptive behavior, encouraging close nurse and physician collaboration and implementing reward and recognition programs can help mitigate any image concerns.

Nursing Theory Frameworks

2008-12-11T08:59:00.000-08:00

Nursing theory is the term given to the body of knowledge that is used to support nursing practice. In their professional education, nurses will study a range of interconnected subjects which can be applied to the practice setting. This knowledge may be derived from experiential learning, from formal sources such as nursing research or from non-nursing sources.

Nursing theories provide a framework for nurses to systematize their nursing actions: what to ask, what to observe, what to focus on and what to think about, to develop new and validate current knowledge. They define commonalities of the variables in a stated field of inquiry, guide nursing research and actions, predict practice outcomes, and predict client response.

Nursing theories are used to describe, develop, disseminate, and use previous/present knowledge in nursing. Descriptive theory identifies properties and components of a discipline. They identify meaning and observations and describe what elements exist in that discipline. Explanatory theory identifies how the properties and components relate to each other and accounts for how the discipline functions. Predictive theories predict the relationships between the components of a phenomenon and predict under what conditions it will occur. And, Prescriptive theories address nursing therapeutics and consequences of interventions.

There are generally 4-levels of Nursing Theory: Metatheory is the most abstract and not easily tested. Grand Theory is a conceptual framework that defines broad perspectives for nursing practice. Middle Range Theory is moderately abstract and has a limited number of variables. They can be tested directly. Mid-range is very useful in nursing research and practice. Practice Theory traces the outline for practice. Objectives are set and actions are set to meet the objectives. Four steps in the development of practice theories are: factor isolating, factor relating, situation relating, and situation producing control.

In nursing, theories can also be analyzed by types which are needs, interaction, outcome, and humanistic-focused.

It is interesting to note that 90% of all nursing theories have been generated just in the last 20-years. Many schools encourage students to formulate theories of Nursing as part of their curriculum. In fact the pages of Nursing Science Quarterly are a major mouthpiece for Nursing Theory. Some still argue though that this multiplicity of theory is detrimental to the practice and undermines common vision. Others would say that the nature of the young science is sufficiently far reaching to require such tactics in order to elicit true consensus. It cannot be denied, however, that there is much vanity involved in the formulation of nursing theory.

Nursing theory is essential to the framework of nursing practice. Nursing theory information will assist in guiding individual practice and research methods.

Facts about Nursing Shortage

2008-12-10T05:53:00.000-08:00

Public Health Nursing

2008-12-09T07:17:00.000-08:00

Isn’t it good health one of our priorities in the family among other things? With that in mind, wouldn’t it be very comforting to know also if the community where we live in also promotes public health nursing? Even if your eyebrows meet and your forehead carries a large question mark because you don’t know exactly it means and what it can do to your community, but if you read it between the lines, I’m sure you would say yes right away!

But, what really is public health nursing? For some, the words may sound familiar, while others may find the words confusing. Actually, public health nursing is the practice of upholding and protecting the health of the community by using the knowledge learned from nursing, social, and public health sciences. Given the good intention of public health nursing, it is not surprising to know that you can find public health nursing almost anywhere in the country.

Public health nursing is, in fact, developed to describe its specific roles and to provide a guide for public health nursing practice in the ever growing health care system. However, the public health nursing practice can be affected by certain factors, such as environmental, biological, cultural, economic, social and political aspects of a community. Due to the fact that public health nursing is an integral part of the healthcare system, the former is also responsive to these factors by way of working with the community in promoting health and preventing disease, injury and disability.

As public health nurses, their role is to integrate community health involvement and knowledge about the entire community with personal and clinical understandings of the health and illness experiences of individuals and families within the community. Also, they interpret and express the health and illness experiences of different, usually vulnerable individuals and families in the community to health planners and policy makers and assist members of the community to speak up their problems and hopes.

A public health nursing may be carried out even by only one public health nurse or by a group of public health nurses working together for the same purpose. There could be many activities that public health nurses can do in order to promote good health and protect the health of the entire community. One of the best examples is providing health education, care management and primary care to the people and families, especially those who are members of vulnerable community.

Our world could be a better place to live in if only all the community encourage public health nursing in order to have disease-free and health-conscious family. And since family is the smallest unit of a community, the awareness in promoting health should start within it. This is much easier to achieve through the help of public health nurses, knowing that it only takes one public health nurse to operate a public health nursing.

Telemetry Nursing

2008-12-08T14:25:00.000-08:00

Most people have a lot of nice things to say about nursing. This could be one of the things that made nursing an interesting career option. But, did you know that there are a lot of areas of specialization in the big world of nursing?

Having a career in the field of nursing can take you to a wide selection of various specialization. If you dream of becoming a nurse, then you should start choosing what to specialize on the soonest possible time in order for you to have ample time to consider where to focus on your studies. But if you are a registered nurse already, you may want to put some spice on your career and explore one of the most rewarding specialization in the field of nursing, which is telemetry nursing.

Telemetry nursing is an exciting career as it allows you to use your technical skills and interpersonal skills. There’s no preferred gender to this area of specialization, which means both men and women can be a telemetry nurse. For as long as you have compassion and nursing expertise, which are required if you want to become part of telemetry nursing, you will be good in this area.

Just like in any other career fields, it is expected that you want to know what the telemetry nurses’ jobs are, would you not? Actually, in telemetry nursing, what a telemetry nurse does is connect patients to monitoring devices. These devices are designed and used to monitor the changes in heart rates, breathing rates, blood pressure, and oxygen levels. If there are significant changes or if there are any complaints of discomfort from patients, it’s the responsibility of the telemetry nurse to notify the medical staff in order to develop an immediate action plan.

Even if a telemetry nurse often administers to patients in a hospital or clinical setting, the concern of telemetry nursing does not end in those premises. In fact, it is also the responsibility of the telemetry nurse to educate patients regarding health maintenance and disease prevention as they return to their homes. Promoting and maintaining good health of patients is part of the job of a telemetry nurse that extends beyond the confinement of the hospital, clinics, or any other healthcare institutions.

If telemetry nursing arouse your interest, why not make the right decision now and be part of the challenging and rewarding world of telemetry nursing? Due to the shortage in any area of nursing, you are guaranteed a secured job. As a telemetry nurse, not only you are sure to have a brighter future for your career, you also get the chance to use the skills you are so good at. So, what more can you ask for?

Pediatric Nursing

2008-12-05T09:26:00.000-08:00

Is your fascination with kids keeps you thinking about making a career out of it? Since you have soft spots for children, you are left with several options to choose from when it comes to deciding on what profession to land on. You can be a teacher, a day-care provider, or even a baby-sitter! But because there’s a desperate need for nurses due to the predicted shortage, you my want to reconsider your options and become a pediatric nurse. In pediatric nursing, you are given a chance to work with different children of different ages as well as promoting their health and well being.

To become a pediatric nurse, your educational preparation will require you to take up pediatric nursing program in order for you to gain the skills and knowledge needed to perform your job properly, which is providing care for infants, children and adolescents. Also, you should learn how to comfort and treat patients, assist doctors, examine and refer patients, and instruct parents to do their share of caring and giving support for their children. Do you now have a clearer picture of how important the role of a pediatric nurse in children and parent’s lives?

There are many programs that allow you to focus on caring for children with special needs or you can concentrate on a certain age group like infants or teenagers. The choice is yours to make whatever you prefer. You can also take courses in child development, diagnosis and treatment, and physiology. Or, you may take courses about health promotion, parenting, and disease prevention. If you are interested in healthcare systems and management skills, there are also available courses for you to take up on those areas.

What’s great about pediatric nursing is that you can become a pediatric nurse in as early as two years by completing a two-year master’s degree program offered by some nursing schools. And most of these programs allow you to become a practitioner nurse after graduation, which means you can examine, diagnose, and treat your own patients, while others let you become a clinical nurse specialist. But, if you already have a master’s degree in nursing, all you need to do is complete a postmaster’s degree program leading to certificate in pediatric nursing. Isn’t that a fast way to realizing your dream of having a career that involves children?

Having a degree in pediatric nursing allows you to work in schools, hospitals, clinic, or any other healthcare institutions. Due to the fact that there is a significant shortage of nurses, you’re guaranteed to get a job in no time, provided you have the credentials needed to take the position. Isn’t your fascination with children the reason why you want a career that has something to do with them? Well, this is your big chance and the best part of it is that there are lots of things you can do more than just working with them, you can as well show and provide children what pediatric nurses are known for – care!

RN to BSN - Career Benefits and Education Options

2008-12-03T11:40:00.000-08:00

By: Michael V. Gruber, Mph

he complexities of a changing medical field in technology, advanced information, and facing a growing leadership role among nurses has increased the need for a degree of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing among registered nurses (RN to BSN). This higher level of education takes commitment and dedication and in the following article, we will outline how to achieve these goals.

Advancing your nursing degree – The difference between RN and BSN

Beginning a career in nursing for those who desire an abbreviated education will get an associate’s degree (AD) which usually involves 2-3 years of schooling. A nurse may also follow a diploma program, usually through a hospital, that is also 2-3 years in length before becoming an RN. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Sample Survey, 70% of nurses have AD or diploma level degrees. An RN must also pass all required examinations such as the NCLEX-RN (National Council Licensing Examination for Registered Nurses) before practicing with patient contact.

For many nurses looking to advance their careers, a BSN is the natural next step. It is a 4 year program that includes research oriented learning, leadership training, and liberal arts. Many of the students that are enrolled in the BSN program are previous RN’s with associate degrees or diplomas. They are now going back to school with all the hardships involved; financially, time inflexibility, family and other outstanding commitments.

The differences between an RN and BSN are not necessarily clear to the patient who is being treated with basic care. A nurse treating a patient won’t be asked, “excuse me, are you a RN or a BSN?” Yet the differences lie within. The education gained, the additional technical training, and the potential advancement are not immediately recognized by the patient. A nurse with a BSN can review research papers, advocate for the patient, work with leaders in the hospital or medical facility with confidence and advanced management skills. A nurse with an RN may have all these abilities, yet a BSN enhances them and increases advancement opportunities.

Career Opportunities with a BSN

RN’s return to school for a number of reasons, yet many are personal in nature: To become leaders in the nursing industry, advancing their careers, or move to the next level and receive a master’s or doctoral degree.

Management-level nursing requires an advanced degree such as a BSN. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, in management, nurses can become anywhere from the assistant head nurse or head nurse, to assistant director, director, and vice president and upwards. Other career opportunities include research, consulting, and teaching. A nurse with a BSN can manage a home health care clinic and ambulatory services, etc. Nurses can also move into the business side of nursing to becoming an manager of an insurance company, pharmaceutical manufacturer, and managed care organization (U.S. Dept. of Labor, 2005).

Salary Benefits of advancing a degree from RN to BSN

Advanced nursing degrees create new career opportunities and justify an increased salary. An RN and a BSN will receive the same salary for the same nursing position, but as the BSN moves through the ranks to a higher position, salaries tend to increase. For example, a promotion to a management position of head nurse with a BSN has a higher salary than being the floor nurse with an RN.

Education Opportunities and Education Cost

In 2004, there were 600 RN to BSN programs in the United States. Many RN's use the tuition reimbursement from their employer as an incentive to go back for the BSN. There are also accelerated BSN programs for those individuals who already attained bachelor or higher degrees and wish to go into nursing. There are more than 165 of these programs in the United States. These programs are 12 to 18 months in length (U.S. Dept. of Labor, 2005). In choosing the appropriate program, it is necessary to choose whether to work in a classroom setting or study through an online RN to BSN program.

The classroom setting has many benefits which include peer contact and live lectures. Sharing experiences with others and learning from other previous like-minded RN’s is a great benefit. The dilemma with classroom education for most nurses is the stringent scheduling and time management needed to attend class and work around an RN’s busy schedule.

An online nursing degree course is the other alternative. It is a way for nurses to work while continuing with their education with flexibility around time commitments. The non-clinical portion of the classroom courses are given online and the clinicals are usually arranged at a medical facility near the nurse’s home. There may be timed lectures or the nurses may do lectures at their own time with assignments being sent to the lecturer by fax or mail on designated due dates. Examinations are usually offered online. Many times the online school follows a semester schedule and has a set start and finish date, though this is not true for all schools. To learn more about online RN to BSN programs, refer to your school of choice and learn what that school offers.

Conclusion

Personal satisfaction, a qualitative factor that can not be measured or quantified, is what many BSN students say is most important about receiving their advanced degree. Our society is advancing in all areas, with technology and intellectual expertise. The information is available and the prerequisites allow many RN's to attain an advanced degree; the determining factor is, we must advance as a society and create leaders in all areas of industry. A BSN gives the degree and knowledge and critical leadership skills for an RN to advance in the world of medicine, business, and personal achievement.

Nursing Degree through Internet Access

2008-12-02T05:12:00.000-08:00

Mental Health Nursing

2008-12-01T05:53:00.000-08:00

We are now living in a world where people seem to have an open mind about almost anything. But, why is it that, at some point, certain individuals still find it easier to talk about and accept a person being physically ill than someone who has mental health problems? There could be many reasons behind that life-size question mark on your forehead. To some extent, this could be the result of the impossibility of putting a clear distinction between mental health and illness.

At some point in our lives, we may have experienced episodes of stress, anxiety, anger, depression and any other mental health condition, because those are what make us human. In other words, these mental problems are as common as cough and colds. But, if any of those conditions becomes overwhelming, hard to control, or has been recurring for quite some time, it’s the time that you seek professional help. If you let your condition pass by without getting immediate attention and care, it could lead to a more serious problem, not to mention that it gets in the way of your daily activities.

This is where mental health nursing steps in. Mental health nursing is a very challenging job, I must say. The nurses working in a mental health institutions, whether in a hospital or in a community, show great care for people with mental health condition, assisting patients to overcome their unwell condition or to come to terms with it so that they can continue to live their lives as normal as possible.

Mental health nursing is the kind of profession in which the nurses are likely to be dealing with people from all walks of life with different backgrounds. As their experience broadened and careers develop, they have a choice to specialize in any areas like alcohol and drugs, research, education, or management positions. But the important challenges for mental health nurses are to use their skills and personal strengths in order to help patients come to terms with their problems. Have you noticed that sometimes you tend to feel more comfortable sharing your concerns with nurses than with physicians? That is exactly why mental health nursing exist – fill in the gap between the physician and the patient!

nother challenge that a mental health nurse has to face is to identify if and when a patient may be at risk of harming themselves or other people. Therefore, one of the most important skills that mental health nurses have to learn is recognizing any build-up tension in a patient and resolving it as quickly as possible. What a challenging career mental health nursing indeed! Not a very enticing job, but definitely very rewarding. You must be a people person with great care to people with mental illness to be able to do the job of a mental health nurse.

Average Nursing Salary

2008-11-28T08:07:00.000-08:00

It is commonly known that there is a significant shortage of nurses not only in a specific country, but throughout the world. To all those who are interested and most importantly qualified in the field of nursing, you are all welcome.

Just like in any other profession, it is not all the time that professionals think of how much money they will be getting once they pursue a certain career. Though, let’s face it, it matters. Additionally, in most career fields, a person’s salary depends on certain factors. You may be receiving bigger pay than what your friend is getting from other place. This thing applies also in the world of nursing.

If you want to know how much the recent average is nursing salary, you are on the right page. However, you should know that an average nursing salary can be determined by the needs and capabilities of a community, work schedule, training, skills, and experience, which means that the information you will get from this article maybe a little different from place to place.

For registered nurses (RNs) working in the US, the average nursing salary is a little over $ 41, 600 every year. RNs with more than 3 years of experience are getting more than $ 47, 000, while those who are in the entry level are receiving more or less $ 39, 000 a year. Depending also on the position, the higher position, the average nursing salary could go as high as $ 60, 000 a year and over.

In a hospital setting, an average nursing salary is also affected depending on the specialization. Also, working in various healthcare institutions with different specializations could also mean different average nursing salary. The lowest annual average pay you can get is not less than $ 33,500 and the highest can reach up to $ 65,000 and more.

Even for the hourly paid nurses, there is also a variation on the rates. Depending on the demand of a nurse’s specialty and the kind of responsibilities she/he is tasked with, the rate could go up much higher. The entry level nursing salary per hour is approximately between $17.65 to $19.75 If basing on hospital bed size, hospitals with more than 500 bed size, the possible average nursing salary at an hourly rate can be $ 21.00.

Based on the range of the average nursing salary, it is clear that salary of nurses is dependent on a lot of factors, such as training, the kind of institution you are working with, your position, and the location of your work.

Critical Care Nursing

2008-11-26T06:57:00.000-08:00

If you are to describe the job of a nurse, what comes to mind first? For some people, they would probably think that a nurse is someone who provides the care you need when being hospitalized, while other would see a nurse as someone who works side by side with physicians in providing care. There could be truth on those answers, but there is actually more to nursing than just giving care to patients. And if you think you have seen what a nurse can do, better think again.

There is this specialty within nursing that deals specifically with human responses to life-threatening situations and that is critical care nursing. As the name implies, critical care nursing is indeed a serious job that requires all your skills to be able to save the lives of those people who are in a life-threatening condition. As a critical care nurse, you should be a licensed professional nurse who is responsible in making sure that acutely and critically ill patients as well as their parents receive the best possible care.

To get a clearer picture as to how grave critical care nursing is, let us define what a critically ill patient is. Critically ill patient is someone who is at high risk for actual or potential life-threatening health condition. The more serious the condition of the patient is, the more extremely vulnerable, unstable, and complex he or she becomes and the more extreme and watchful nursing care is required. Being in a situation like that, where there’s no room for errors, it is just right to get the right training and exposure to obtain the skills needed to be able to respond to the specific needs of critically ill patients.

Critical care nursing are given in the hospital setting where critically ill patients are being treated and where the real action is, such as in the intensive care units, cardiac catheter labs, telemetry units or ICUs, pediatric intensive care units, neonatal ICUs, cardiac care units, progressive care units, emergency departments and recovery rooms. In addition, critically care nursing can also be provided in home healthcare, managed care organizations, outpatient surgery centers and clinic, and nursing schools.

Because critical care nursing requires stern expertise, critical care nurses have gone through an intensive practice in settings where patients need complex assessment, high-intensity therapies and intervention, and continue nursing care. With constant exposure to these situations, a critical care nurse will be able to work in different settings. They can be bedside clinicians, nurse educators, nurse researchers, clinical nurse specialists, nurse managers, and nurse practitioners. With the arrival of managed care and the resulting transfer of patients from hospital settings to healthcare institutions, critical care nursing is more in demand.

What is Holding You Back?

2008-11-24T13:30:00.000-08:00

Procrastination and Complacency

There are two very formidable opponents that face us on a human level: Procrastination and complacency. While there are similarities between the two words, they are two different conditions. The common theme of these two conditions is a lack of results.

Complacency is usually the result of accomplishment or achieving a certain level of success. Complacency is defined with “an unawareness of actual dangers.” Complacency creeps up on us unexpectedly, and most times we do not realize that we suffer from this condition until we are faced with the actual danger. The danger we could very easily face is allowing a lapse in our education, such as the mandatory continuing education required for re-licensure as talked about in a previous article dated October 31st on this site by Margaret Lyons, program coordinator at Villanova University.

Perpetual goal setting is one of the best practices we can employ to prevent complacency from setting in. Using a benchmark set by others can further insure that we will never have a goal in which we are satisfied. Tell yourself there is always someone doing it better, and find that someone.

We also need to create our own mechanism that will prevent complacency. It can be something simplistic such as an office bulleting board (hand-written to do list with due dates), or something more sophisticated employing technology (timed reminders on your computer). Keep your goals in front of you - carefully measured in achievable steps - so that you face them everyday. Choose the mechanism that will best work for you; just be sure to implement something. While at this juncture (nurses in Pennsylvania, California, Kansas and Delaware), have you addressed the mandatory continuing education for re-licensure?

Procrastination can be a byproduct of complacency however it has many sources. Unlike complacency, procrastination does not necessarily (and most times probably does not) result from success. It is a factor that prevents accomplishment.

Procrastination is a more conscious opponent usually a result of fear or poor prioritization. Concerning fear, it is never personal; identify and face your fear in order to alleviate anxiety. Our prioritization sometimes needs to be scrutinized. Life in nursing gives us a work load with more than our fair share. We begin to juggle instead of prioritize, and I am not referring to patient care here. When prioritizing, be sure your personal and professional advancement weighs in.

Time and Money

Now for the proverbial obstacles: Time and money. As you address procrastination and analyze your prioritization, commit the time needed for continuing education. Visualize where you will be and of the advanced opportunities afforded you once you have gained the desired (and necessary) degree. Do not let the economy be your excuse. Our profession is experiencing a shortage with a projected increase for the next 12 years. Nonetheless, by the time the economy improves, you could have positioned yourself for the place you want to be, rather than it being too late.

If you still have unfulfilled dreams and aspirations, take the first step to get started.

The Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation is the first place to look. See if you qualify for the financial assistance they offer. Simply click on their link at left. And do not stop there. Schools of nursing often have assistance for those in need as well. As an example, visit Villanova’s College of Nursing, link at left, to see what they have to offer and peruse their site to learn more about their programs to see if their program may be right for you.

As this site continues to build its resources, please visit frequently for opportunities in education, advancement and employment.

As always, thank you for visiting and please share your comments.

Nurses Who Serve Those Who Serve

2008-11-21T09:38:00.000-08:00

By Linda S. Smith, MS, DSN, RN, CLNC
Professor and Director of the Associate Degree Registered Nurse Program at the College of Technology, Idaho State University

Last year, New Jersey born Army Captain Maria Ines Ortiz was the first army nurse to be killed in Iraq since the 2003 US invasion. She was killed during a mortar attack in Baghdad’s Green Zone. Ortiz was doing what military nurses do best – caring for the sick and wounded on or near enemy lines. She was survived by her parents, four sisters, and a fiance’. Ortiz gave her professional nursing skills and dedication, as well as her life, to serve those who so selflessly and heroically serve us.

Many of us consider great military nursing to have originated with Britain’s Florence Nightingale. It is true that the events in Scutari, Turkey gave birth to professional nursing. It is not true that Scutari was the first military location for nurses. For America, military nursing officially began with the birth of our country - the revolutionary war.

Nursing during the Revolutionary War (1776) was not recognized as a separate and distinct service. It was often included and described along with such tasks as cooking, cleaning, washing, and sewing. “Nursing” was designed to keep sick men clean, well fed, and comfortable. Camp followers on both sides of the war effort were women who washed, cleaned, cooked, and “nursed” the men. And medical care given to the wounded included purging, blistering, and bleeding. Most battle wounds were followed by uncontrolled infections, forcing surgeons to amputate. Over 90% of deaths were caused by disease – 10% by battle wounds. Wounded men would be placed side by side with men suffering typhoid and typhus, thus wiping out whole wards.

The Civil War

In 1861, President Abraham Lincoln called for volunteers to help care for sick and injured Union Soldiers. Simultaneously, women in the north began to organize relief societies. Dorthea L. Dix came to Washington, DC to volunteer her services and was immediately appointed superintendent of women nurses of the Army. (Dix had already made significant contributions to the improvement of care for the mentally ill). Dix established strict criteria for her nurses, with the idea that these women would be nursing supervisors. Her nurses were sent to Bellevue Hospital New York City, for one month of training. Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, began her Civil war work in 1861 when she established an agency to distribute medical supplies to wounded soldiers.

Though enormously dedicated, hardworking, and successful, the idea of female nurses was met with opposition from male doctors and military personnel. These nurses were often outspoken about incompetence, pilfering, and corruption among army surgeons. Many hospitals had little food and even fewer supplies. Nurses wrote to their contacts and reported these terrible conditions – further angering the male physicians. They took cleanliness and organization into their own hands.

Transport services for sick and wounded men were available via railroad, steam ships and wagons, often taking days and even weeks to reach hospitals. Tents were pitched along waterways where a corp of male and female nurses worked. Religious sisters also became a vital part of the nursing staff.

Importantly, medical efforts during the Civil war led to many scientific improvements and paved the way for a new profession of nursing in the US.

Scutari and Florence Nightingale

Florence Nightingale’s best-known triumph, the organization of military nursing, took place during the Crimean War (named after Turkey’s Crimean Peninsula). In 1854, Great Britain and France declared war on Russia in order to protect Turkey from Russian attacks. Due to poor military decisions, fierce fighting and enormous numbers of causalities from wounds, cholera, and dysentery, men were dying by the thousands. Four miles of the Turkish “Barrack Hospital” housed Great Britain’s sick and dying soldiers. British people were outraged, as news of these atrocities reached England, and the Secretary of State Sidney Herbert asked his long time friend Florence Nightingale to organize a group of nurses for war service in Turkey.

Nightingale saw four miles of rat-infested corridors filled with starving, freezing men. They had no blankets, beds, or bandages. Amputations were performed without anesthetic or even the crudest sanitation. Nightingale and her 38 nurses arrived on November 5, 1854 and were given charge of 1,500 patients. In only a few months, Nightingale decreased the death rate from 42% to 2%. She transformed the Barracks into efficiently run hospitals and won the admiration and respect of the world.

Nightingale understood medical and military politics and the scientific method for gathering and reporting data. Advocating for the sick and wounded soldiers, Nightingale used her statistical and writing skills to influence increased funding and appropriations of supplies. The grateful British people donated $200,000 to her, which she used to start the Nightingale School of Nursing four years later in 1860.

Spanish American War

For the first time in US history, professionally trained nurses were accepted into military hospitals. During the Spanish American War, these contract nurses became forerunners to our present military nursing corp. The Spanish American War took place against Spain (Cuba) in 1898 and the first call for nurses came on May 7, 1898 because of the 30% sick rate among American troops. Typhoid patients would remain for hours and even days without care. Some had bedsores down to the bone. Because of the resistance to having female nurses, these health professionals knew they had to excel in every possible way. One single nurse often had to care for 40 or more delirious typhoid patients per day. Nurses worked at a frantic pace in unfurnished facilities. They also helped gather statistics and medical data related to typhoid – statistics implicating the contaminated water, food, and insects.

These trained nurses were considered by the men as angels of mercy. Thus, in December of 1898, a committee of women and nurses moved to establish a permanent Army Nurse Corp. In 1901, the Army Nurse Corp was established. In 1908 the Navy Nurse Corp (the only females in the Navy) became an important component of the US Navy. They won the praise and admiration of navel officials because, for the first time, two large nursing services were made up entirely of graduate nurses.

World War I

The US committed itself to WWI in 1917 and our Army and Navy Nurse Corp increased their numbers significantly to meet the needs of the American soldiers. Unfortunately, as our nation faced a devastating flu epidemic at home, more and more civilian nurses were leaving for military and Red Cross service. Therefore, student nurse recruitment efforts were increased.

Conditions in camp hospitals were difficult. However, World War I provided nurses with experience related to the new projectile bullets, shell fragments, poison gas, explosives, and other injury causing war machines. Nurses learned to use a weak chlorine solution for cleansing wound infections, and developed debriedment operations. Almost 300 nurses died in WW I, mostly due to disease exacerbated by overwork.

World War II

On December 7, 1941, Japanese pilots bombed Pearl Harbor and so began America’s involvement in WWII. Even before that date, however, the Nursing Council on National Defense was organized. Composed of representatives from the six American nursing organizations, this committee set out to recruit more student nurses, improve nursing education, decrease the numbers of inactive nurses, and educate and use voluntary nurses’ aides.

As with WWI, the war effort created a major civilian nursing shortage. A national plan for federal financial aid allowed schools of nursing to provide scholarships to needy student nurses and for refresher courses for inactive nurses. On July 1, 1943, a nursing student could join the Cadet Nurse Corp, receive full scholarships and a small monthly stipend. In return she had to promise to serve as a military nurse after graduation. Thus, students could complete their nursing education AND serve their country. Notably, and as a result of this national effort, nursing schools voluntarily upgraded curriculum and faculty to meet the military standards.

With the Cadet Nurse Corp and its 150,000 members, the concept of aid to nursing education became reality and civilian and military nursing collaborated. WW II also brought about the important idea of placing medical and nursing services as close to the war front as possible. The type of firepower used created more casualties but mortality was decreased because of the high medical standards and nursing services. By the end of the war, 100,000 nurses had volunteered for military service. Nurses went ashore with the invading troops and were placed where their special skills were most needed.

Today

Today, a career as a nurse in the military means that a nurse’s educational advancement and career goals can be met through military service. Experiences in state-side military hospitals and bases, as well as overseas duty positions, are available. Reserve nursing is also available to nurses who choose this type of military service.

American military nurses continue to stand firm in their beliefs and commitments for quality, efficient health care given to our nation’s sick and wounded military personnel. Just as was the case with New Jersey born Army Captain Maria Ines Ortiz, they are proving themselves as expert, valuable, dedicated nurses – they are bravely caring for and serving those who serve us.

References

Austin, A. L. (1975). Wartime volunteers-1861-1865. AJN, 75(5).
Berges, F. & Berges, C. (1986). A visit to Scutari. AJN, 86(7), 811-813.
Bullough, B. (1976). The lasting impact of WWII on nursing. AJN, 76(1).
Culpepper, M. M., & Adams, P. G. (1988). Nursing in the civil war. AJN. 88(7), 981-984.
Dolan, J. A. (1966). Goodnow’s history of nursing. Philadelphia: WB Saunders Co.
Kalisch, P. A., & Kalisch, B. J. (1978). The advance of American nursing. Boston: Little, Brown, and Co.
Selavan, I.C. (1975). Nurses in American history: The revolution. AJN, 75(4).

* Portions previously published Journal of Military Nursing Research, 1(2), 12-13, 1995

Formidable Career – Forensic Nursing

2008-11-20T09:24:00.000-08:00

With crime scene dramas accounting gun shots and autopsies, most people acquire the misconception that forensic nursing has something to do with a special ‘medical detective agency’ out in action for the next murder case. Forensic nurses can go out for action, especially if one with American Forensic Nurses or the International Association of Forensic Nurses; however, a forensic nursing job is mostly focused on patients (not necessarily carcasses awaiting justice) and not on suspects to be hunted down.

Although forensic nursing also touch upon medico-legal death investigation, forensic nurses are most of the time involved in a much needing task of treating victims of a sexual assault or performing examinations for a child abuse or domestic violence case. Forensic nursing involves the proper collection of evidence upon suspecting an assault on their patients and then preserving the critical chain of evidence. Forensic nursing then requires a special training on valid data collection and producing legal testimonies. Aside from their nursing background, the forensic nurses combine a bio-psycho-social education in the scientific investigation and treatment of trauma and/or death of victims of abuse and traumatic accidents.

Forensic nurses are experts in clinical diagnosis, providing care to sexual assault victims, as well as legal nurse consulting and assisting in criminal prosecution cases. Forensic nursing then applies the nursing science in public and legal proceedings involving patients of special case and care. Forensic nurses may also go deeper in a critical investigation as they are susceptible to encountering also the crime suspects or perpetrators of violence and criminal activity. Nurses treat wounds yet may precariously compromise valuable evidence.

The complex yet crucial job of forensic nursing plus the fact that it’s only a fairly new field, make it complicated for those considering a specialization in this field. Aspiring forensic nurses may find that there is currently no national standard whatsoever when it comes to the licensing and designation of a ‘Forensic Nurse’ and that there are actually many acronyms often used by each state but are interchangeably pertaining to the same forensic nursing position. Some are called SANE/ Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, SAE/ Sexual Assault Examiner, SAFE/ Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner, SANC/ Sexual Assault Nurse Clinician, or FNE/ Forensic Nurse Examiner. Each is quite similar, yet each certification may have greater areas of focus.

Even so, the various career specialties within forensic nursing – sexual assault examination, emergency room investigation, medico-legal death investigation, evidence collection training, medical examiner’s office study, medical legal consulting, or working with or on behalf of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies – are all formidable both in the medical and legal field.

Certified Nurse Assistant’s Duties

2008-11-18T06:50:00.000-08:00

Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) is the Direct Care Giver to many.

Among the vast array of health care careers lies the area of direct care giving. These professionals are often Home Health Assistant (HHA) or Home Health Aides, Personal Care Assistants, Nurse's Aides, Patient Care Technicians and several other titles, depending on the work environment and the region.

Certified Nursing Assistants work closely with patients and provide assistance with daily living tasks, such as: dressing (according to patients' needs, ranging from minimal assistance to totally dependent); bathing (bed baths, tub baths, showers); feeding (serving meals, physically feeding patients who are unable to do so themselves); toileting (assisting with bedpans & urinals, help to the bathroom, provide incontinent care for patients who need it); vital signs (Blood pressure, pulse, etc); Catheter caring (emptying, upkeep of Intake & Output sheets when necessary); answering call lights in a timely fashion; assisting patients with ambulation, when needed; range of Motion Exercises, as prescribed by physical therapy; assisting residents in wheelchairs (a lot of heavy lifting at times); making beds and keeping the patients' rooms and belongings neat and organized; ensuring that bedridden patients are turned at least every two hours, to ensure comfort and to prevent bedsores; reporting all changes, physical and mental, of the patients to the nurse; Post Mortem Care; safety awareness - keeping an eye on wanderers and watching for potentially dangerous situations; Documentation - daily documentation on the care provided to each patient; and anything else that needs to be done.

Certified Nurse Assistants are required to lift patients, assist a patient that is falling and carry heavy medical equipment. They should have the physical dexterity to perform skills that require fine motor movement. Basic observations are made by the CNA; therefore they should possess the senses of sight, hearing, smell, and touch.

Certified Nursing Assistants can be found in nursing homes, hospitals, adult day health centers, assisted living facilities, even personal homes. Wherever there is a need for personal care, Certified Nursing Assistants are the ones who, for the most part, perform the most basic needs for patients, young and old alike. They work under the supervision of a nurse. Since aides have extensive daily contact with each patient, they are keys to providing vital information on the patients' conditions to the nurse.

A certified nursing assistant's job does not end with the physical needs of the patients. This is a job which requires compassion and a desire to make people comfortable and happy. Residents of nursing homes often suffer from depression and/or dementia, and the certified nursing assistant is often the closest human contact afforded to many of these people. A sense of humor helps in this field.

Article Originally Published by Staff Quest

Nursing Education in the United States

2008-11-17T10:23:00.000-08:00

Facts about Nursing Shortage

2008-11-13T07:37:00.000-08:00

Different Types of Nursing Careers

2008-11-11T09:49:00.000-08:00

Have you been toying with the idea of pursuing a career in the field of nursing? If you have, that is considered good news since there is a desperate need for nurses to fill in the significant shortage in the nursing profession. To help you decide what specialization to choose, you should know the different types of nursing careers.

Critical Care Nursing – among the different types of nursing career, this is a popular one. Critical care nurses provide care for patients and families who are experiencing actual or potential life-threatening illness. As a critical care nurse, you will be assigned to where critically ill patients are such as intensive care units (ICU), emergency rooms, neurological and cardiac surgical ICUs.

Nursing Informatics– this type of nursing career is for those people who both love to provide care and computers. It is actually an extensive field that integrates nursing knowledge with use of computers. Your job in this field could be a nurse programmer, nurse communicator, informatics nurse manager, or nurse vendor representative.

Neonatal Nursing – this is also one of the challenging yet rewarding types of nursing, where in neonatal nurses provide care for new-born and premature babies by ensuring good health, providing preventative care to prevent illness, and caring for the babies who are sick.

Oncology Nursing – nurses in the field of oncology provide health care for patients suffering from cancer at all stages of treatment and remission.Pediatric Nursing – pediatric nurses provide care for children of different ages in all aspects of health care. Its only difference from neonatal is that neonatal nurses provide care for the newly born, especially within the first month after birth and premature babies.

Psychiatric Nursing – this is one of the most important types of nursing as it involves taking care of patients with mental and psychiatric illness. In a society in which physical condition is easier to accept than mental condition, psychiatric nurse plays an important role on this are of nursing.

By knowing some of the different types of nursing careers will make it easier for you to choose what specialization to focus and study. There are different nursing programs offered by some of the many nursing schools in the country for you take up, depending on your preferred specialization. The fact that there is a shortage of nurses all over the country, you certainly have a good shot getting a job upon graduation.

ARTICLE ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STAFF QUEST

Helping Someone Who Grieves

2008-11-07T08:30:00.001-08:00

By Linda S. Smith, MS, DSN, RN, CLNC
Professor and Director of the Associate Degree Registered Nurse Program
Idaho State University

Grief, loss, anger, despair, and guilt are human responses to any tragedy. They are normal, yet entirely unique, because each of us resolves grief and loss in our own way.

Accepting loss and even death is probably the hardest part about being human. When a friend or loved one is grieving, we may be afraid to get involved; to talk about the loss or death; to feel it for and with someone. We may say, "I hate going over there to visit, it's so depressing;" or "Why should I call or stop over; I can't do anything to make it better."

Yet, moods and reactions people have as they grieve a significant loss are often responses to how others react toward them and what others expect. With this in mind, it is easy to see how people "pick up" on the obvious and hidden "expected behaviors" from the persons who are closest to them. Therefore, if someone you know and love is experiencing grief, your reactions and responses to them can improve or worsen the situation.

Fears

First, friends and loved ones need to understand the fears of those who grieve. These fears include loneliness, meaninglessness, and continued loss. Families of persons who are dying experience profound grief and loss, anger, despair, depression, and even guilt but these emotions may occur very differently among members.

What to do if someone you know is grieving:

- Reach out to the person who is grieving; don't wait for him or her to come to you. Your presence as a good listener is almost more important than anything else you can do.
- Accept the person as a living, valuable human being
- Anticipate that grief work is extremely physical as well as psychological
- Express the simple yet profound, "I'm sorry."
- Allow the grieving person quiet time
- Listen, support, encourage, and share your own feelings. Be available as someone the person can trust.
- Through your responses, give the person permission to think and feel anything
- Allow loose ends to be tied; spiritual peace, financial matters, and funeral arrangements attended to, etc.
- Help persons review their lives for meaning and purpose. This could be done with a diary, a tape recorder, drawings, scrap books, or a photo album. Remind grieving persons of their accomplishments.
- Use culturally sensitive, appropriate touch as an expression of caring. After asking permission, you may chose to hold their hand, pat their arm, give a hug
- Help persons attend to personal grooming and exercise. Take a walk with the person, listen to music together, play a game, reminisce
- Call in a spiritual consultant if the person wishes
- Use open ended communication lead-ins like: "how…, what…, where…,
- “It sounds like you're feeling…;
- share with me…,
- help me understand…"
- Recognize that persons experiencing extreme grief and loss may have sleeping, resting, and eating difficulties. Therefore, call in healthcare resources and professionals as needed.
- Tell the person that you are interested in what they think and feel. Be receptive and nonjudgmental, acknowledging the actual, potential, or perceived loss
- Recommend support groups and provide this information when appropriate
- Give the grieving person the right to cry
- Allow the person at least a full year before major life-changing decisions are made

What NOT to do when communicating with someone in grief or crisis:

- Don't assume that all questions asked demand answers. A simple, "I don't know, but tell me your feelings” is one response to the unanswerable
- Don't meet anger with anger. Allow the angry, grieving person to express the anger without becoming defensive. Acknowledge and accept the anger by saying, "You sound angry…." "It must be so difficult (frustrating) for you …"
- Don't interrupt, expound, criticize, show impatience, judge, minimize, confront, abandon, or be dishonest.
- Don't ignore the person's mental and physical pain
- Don't try to replace grief with faith
- Don't reject the person's feelings with phrases like, "cheer up…" Everything will be fine…"
- Don’t wait to be asked for help. Often the “If you need anything, call me…” is never acknowledged. Better to say, “I’m picking up some groceries, what can I get for you?” and “Today is wash day, let me do a few loads for you.” Or “I brought over the lawn mower – how do you like the grass done?”

Caring for and about someone who grieves is a great privilege.

As you face someone who is experiencing grief and loss, please believe that your efforts are valued and needed. Your presence has a profound effect on those for whom you care.

Need A Change? Maybe Teaching Next Generation of Heroes is Your Calling

2008-11-04T03:59:00.000-08:00

I read through many posts in which current nurses are feeling burned out. A common theme among nurses is overworked, underpaid, and underappreciated. Most assuredly you are not underappreciated by your patients who are grateful for the care you provide. But, I can understand that many employers take for granted those who provide such a selfless service as nursing.Maybe the change you need is to take your experience to the next generation of nurses by becoming a nurse educator. This would satisfy both your calling in the healthcare profession and address the shortage of nursing crisis.

I’m not certain if every state has a program to financially assist current nurses to go back to school to become nurse educators, but Pennsylvania has a fine program in place; The Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation. Several years ago they formed to address the nursing shortage and offered scholarships, grants, and low interest loans to persons looking to become nurses. Now they find that nursing schools in Pennsylvania (and many other states) are turning away nursing candidates due to the lack of nurse educators.If you live or work in Pennsylvania and would like to explore your options for financial aid to become a nurse educator, visit:http://www.higheredfoundation.org/home.shtml

The Nursing Shortage

2008-10-29T10:50:00.000-07:00

The projected nursing shortage in our state is 17,000 nurses by the year 2010 and 54,000 in 2020. There is no shortage of applicants as waiting lists at Pennsylvania's 127 schools of nursing are growing. However, without a sufficient number of nurse educators, this shortage will become a reality. It is not an overstatement to say that the crisis is now!

Additionally, thousands of qualified college nursing applicants are being turned away, left to find opportunities in other states or even to pursue other worthwhile occupations. The inability to educate the number of people needed, coupled with the forecast that 75% of current nurse educators will retire by the year 2019, will lead to the biggest nursing shortage ever.

There are many talented and dedicated nurses in the field with overwhelming conviction for their vocation, yet may feel stagnated with their current assignment.

The Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation is searching for those nurses who have had rewarding careers and are searching for deeper fulfillment. You can give exponentially by becoming a nurse educator. By sharing your experience along with your knowledge to hundreds of nursing students, you will be helping to assure that care for the sick will not only continue but reach higher levels of quality care and medical assistance.

This is an opportune time for those looking for a new career path. You can affect the entire nursing industry and renew your vocation to nursing by choosing to become a nurse educator. Please give this opportunity serious consideration.For information on continuing education, a list of graduate schools in Pennsylvania and financial aid, please click on the following website link: http://www.futuresinnursing.org/aid/special_programs_educators.shtml

A Tribute To Nursing

2008-10-23T06:45:00.000-07:00

By Linda S. Smith, MS, DSN, RN, CLNCProfessor and Nursing Program Director, Idaho State University

To venture the task of discussing the great people and events that have made American nursing the powerful profession it is today, is to undertake an impossible task. I do firmly believe, however, that a taste of history is somewhat like eating one Idaho potato chip - it will stimulate and support a lifelong interest in the subject.

We in nursing are fortunate indeed to be able to emulate the leadership and political savvy of Florence Nightingale. She, more than any nurse before or since, shaped and expanded quality health care throughout the British Empire and world. Most people, however, think of Florence Nightingale only as the founder of nursing education. Though this is true, her contributions exceed far beyond nursing and into the realm of illness prevention, health promotion, and community health and safety.

Florence Nightingale (born 1820) was better educated than most men of her day. She was an accomplished linguist, mathematician, statistician, philosopher, and historian. She understood that contrary to the belief of the day, forward thinking people could alter their destiny. She had an insatiable curiosity and a probing, analytical mind. But her greatest handicap by far was being a woman.

Despite this handicap, Nightingale created and developed a system of education affording women a respectable profession. Additionally, she used her strong political powers to enact hospital and military reform. She reformed health care for the British Empire, including India. Nightingale presented rationale for her decisions and needs with expert mathematical skill. She used the power of the press and her own outstanding prolific writing abilities to keep public health issues in full view of the people.

Nightingale was a national heroine and she used this popularity, along with her expert health care and political knowledge, to influence major leaders, including the queen of England.

US Nursing

In the early 1900s, American women did not have the right to vote nor were they allowed political status. Though nursing was almost exclusively female, nurses as a group were enormously conservative in their approach to the women's movement. In 1907, at the 10th annual convention of the Nurse's Associated Alumnae of the US (now known as the American Nurses Association), the question of women's suffrage (right to vote) was hotly debated and a resolution in support of the women's movement defeated.

Nurse Lavinia L. Dock, however, stands out as one of the strongest, most pro-feminist American nurse of all time. She marched in Washington and went to jail for her belief in equal rights for women. When, in 1920, congress passed the 19th amendment to the constitution giving women voting rights, Dock continued her equal rights crusade in opposition to countless other discriminations against women. Her basic premise, until she died, was that all people are equal.

The power of the press was the motto and mission of Nurse Sophia Palmer, first Editor and Publisher of the American Journal of Nursing. Palmer had great insight into the need for nurses to control their own profession. Her editorials helped create the first American nursing licensing laws and boards in 1903. Palmer took risks and made a major difference for us all. Because of her and others, boards of nursing govern American nurses and American nurses have legal standards for practice and education. These standards forbid unqualified, unlicensed persons from calling themselves registered nurses or RNs.

This is an exciting time to be a nurse! Because of increasing population census, a growing number of elders, expanded technology, health care reform, and emerging nursing roles, many new nursing jobs in Idaho will surface. These new jobs will require well-educated, dedicated, competent, caring, decision-makers and client advocates. Nationally, the healthcare system will require more than 1.2 million new nurses over the next decade. That means that the second largest number of new jobs among all occupations will be for RNs.

RNs work to promote health, prevent disease, and help patients and families cope with illness and disability. They are advocates and health educators for patients, families, communities. RNs develop and manage patient treatment plans; instruct patients and families in proper care; and help individuals and groups take steps to improve or maintain health and quality of life.

Though there will always be a need for hospital nurses, in the future, a growing number of nurses will be employed in home health, long-term care, hospice, parish nursing, prison care, community care, surgical centers, and ambulatory clinics.

This week, please stop for a moment to thank a nurse who has helped you or someone you love find health, wellness, strength, and an improved quality of life. Individuals, families, communities, organizations, specialties, and health services have discovered the importance of quality nursing. Florence Nightingale, we are proud to be walking in your nursing shoes.

Funds for Nursing Available in Pennsylvania

2008-10-22T09:01:00.000-07:00

For those resident of Pennsylvania looking for financial support to go to nursing school, help is out there. The Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation provides financial aid by way of grants and scholarships for those looking to pursue a nursing career, both at the undergraduate and graduate level.

The PHEF has shown the dedication to assist in strengthening the nursing industry by offering a path to get your nursing degree. With student loans become even more difficult to attain, this program has become infinitely more valuable to assist in a profession that is in desperate need of nurses and nurse educators.

To find out more information on what types of financial aid programs are available to you, visit futuresinnursing.org.